With the economic worries of the country no longer an immediate threat to businesses, pre-recession aims such as cutting carbon emissions and improving the energy efficiency of commercial properties are once more coming into the spotlight. New technologies such as solar panels and energy efficient lighting are being welcomed by firms keen to save on their monthly costs, while the government has put several initiatives in place to help pay for measures which will aid them in meeting targets by 2050 as part of the Climate Change Bill.
Staffordshire firm JCB is certainly playing its part in striving towards energy efficiency, as last week it agreed to a long-term lease for the Blue Planet warehouse on the Chatterley Valley site near Newcastle-under-Lyme. The deal, which was part-financed by the government’s Regional Growth Fund, also includes 7.7 acres of adjoining land to allow the firm to expand the site in future.
The Blue Planet warehouse, as the name suggests, is the pinnacle of eco-friendly commercial property. With features including solar panels, a solar-thermal hot water system and movement-activated energy efficient lighting among others, the 383,000 sq ft property both conserves power and water and manages to generate a considerable amount of energy for on-site use.
As a result, JCB can expect to save around £190,000 per year on costs when the building is compared with a similarly sized traditional warehouse.
Furthermore, on top of the environmental benefits, the centre is expected to create employment for up to 60 local workers by the end of 2013. JCB intend to use the Blue Planet warehouse as a logistics and distribution hub, with office space merging seamlessly into storage facilities for large items of machinery.
Chief executive officer Alan Blake, spoke of the firm’s delight at acquiring this property in the “home county” of JCB.
He said; “Staffordshire is where JCB’s business started nearly 68 years ago and I’m delighted that our latest expansion is creating jobs in the county which has been our home for so long.
“Staffordshire is a fantastic place to do business and this site offers some huge advantages for JCB, particularly with transport links to the A500 and M6.”
The Blue Planet warehouse, which has an estimated construction value of £23 million, was completed in 2008 yet due to the timing of the recession had failed to attract a tenant until this week. It was the first building of its kind to achieve an “outstanding” rating in the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method, and as such remains firmly ahead of its time to this day.
Cabinet member for economy and infrastructure at Staffordshire County Council, Mark Winnington, believes this deal will benefit both JCB and the wider area.
He says; “It is fantastic news that JCB is expanding its operations in Staffordshire.
“Blue Planet will provide an excellent base for the company.
“JCB’s continued expansion is good for the regional and national economy.”
Do you think firms such as JCB should be rewarded for investing in pioneering eco-friendly commercial properties, or should raising the energy efficiency rating on existing older properties be the government’s priority when aiming to meet green targets?
