Low Carbon Project of the Year

Baytree Nuneaton
Chetwoods Architects with Baytree Logistics Properties, Rhenus Warehousing Solutions and Glencar Construction

Baytree Nuneaton is a pioneering building that is an exemplar for using timber to significantly minimise whole life carbon within an industrial and logistics project, delivering new standards for lower carbon logistics. The design and construction showcase best-practice principles to minimise carbon emissions, and quantify data to inform the building’s whole life management and performance, through to end-of-life deconstruction. The project showcases the sustainability approach of its architectural designers Chetwoods, developer Baytree Logistics Properties, occupier Rhenus Warehousing Solutions UK, Glencar Construction and wider project team.

NMIS Headquarters
HLM Architects

The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland is an exemplar for low-carbon construction and the use of Modern Methods of Construction in creating unique, landmark projects. The commitment of the University of Strathclyde and the entire design team to delivering a world-class, sustainable building is evident in the result; net-zero in operation, prioritising passive measures, and powered by 100% renewable, onsite-generated energy. A centre of innovation, excellence and collaboration, NMIS’s structure is an embodiment of everything that it represents, and places Scotland firmly as a global leader in advanced manufacturing.

The refurbishment of the National Cycling Centre, Manchester
ISG

ISG has completed a programme of modernisation and operational performance upgrades at the National Cycling Centre in Manchester, upgrading the track and centre facilities. The project has achieved significant carbon reductions in line with Manchester’s 2038 zero carbon vision, safeguarding the future of Manchester’s “medal factory” as the home of British Cycling for years to come. As the UK’s first all-electric Velodrome, the project is a shining example of the kind of retrofit project that organisations such as the UK Green Building Council have stated are essential to achieving the UK’s low carbon imperatives.

A11 Concrete Road Reconstruction Project
Morgan Sindall Infrastructure with AECOM and National Road Planing

We outperformed the carbon benchmark by 40% to remove and replace a heavily reinforced concrete road. We established a carbon focused team, challenged the design, developed innovative methodologies, innovated construction plant and trialled new materials and systems to drive down carbon. Working collaboratively across Tier 1, 2 and 3 organisations, we trialled, developed and deployed a specially modified planer which reduced carbon by 35% carbon compared to conventional techniques. We trialled the first use of a low carbon thermoplastic road marking paint, recycled asphalt planings into new surfacing and developed an innovative PPE recycling scheme, achieving zero waste to landfill.

Esholt Sewage Treatment Works - Phosphorus removal scheme
Mott MacDonald Bentley 

By challenging the design requirements, embedding low carbon thinking and PAS2080 principles, and using innovative digital tools to identify carbon hotspots, we have been able to save ~300 tonnes of carbon at Esholt STW, whilst still meeting the project outcomes. Pioneering 3D printing techniques resulted in a 40% reduction in embodied carbon alone. Mott MacDonald Bentley is proud to be at the forefront of innovation in the industry, meeting our clients’ needs for low carbon solutions and accelerating progress towards a net-zero built environment.

Norton Folgate
Skanska

Norton Folgate showcases the movement towards retaining architectural heritage - beyond the cycle of demolition and new construction. With close client collaboration, the team delivered a 330,000sqft project where all buildings blend existing and new construction. This impressive outcome, combining preservation, redevelopment, and new construction with a focus on the highest sustainability credentials, is attributed to the teams unified efforts. The project's scale, led Skanska and British Land to introduce a Project Charter to maximise positive community impact and enhance workforce morale. This included recognition for various sustainability goals. Winning the award would recognise the teams efforts and innovations.

St. Mary's Voluntary Catholic Academy 
Tilbury Douglas

A pioneering pilot school for the Department for Education, St Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy is the first of its kind. A biophilic design, the project encompasses all of the latest thinking and best practice from the construction industry; from net zero carbon in operation and low embodied carbon, to Modern methods of construction and digital strategies. Furthermore, in conjunction with the University of Derby, the research and learnings from this special project will help inform better decisions about educational briefs and low carbon design for generations to come.

Smart Homes in Devon and Cornwall
Verto Homes with Octopus Energy

Zero Bills™ has created high impact opportunities across the construction sector with pioneering future-fit, comfortable, carbon and bill free living. The combination of unique construction and Octopus Energy’s technology will create a huge impact on levels of residential GHG emissions, and alongside our commitment to creating an environmental net gain, is supporting the UK’s transition to net-zero whilst protecting homeowners against future rises in energy prices. The scheme will change lives, as an obvious fit for new builds, which from 2025 will be required by law to install a heat pump as the Government pushes towards its net-zero goals.

Elmfield Way
Westminster City Council with FM Conway

Westminster City Council and FM Conway collaborated to deliver a ground-breaking, one-of-a-kind, carbon neutral scheme on Elmfield Way in Westminster, laying a new road surface containing 92% recycled materials – the highest percentage ever used on a UK road. The use of 92% recycled materials further pushes the boundaries of what our combined knowledge and resources can achieve and sets the bar for delivering low carbon projects across the industry. This marks a huge step towards our ambitions of being a net zero carbon city by 2040, and demonstrates that together we can create a cleaner, greener future for Westminster.

North Shields Transport Hub
Willmott Dixon

North Shields Transport Hub combines innovative design choices with low carbon materials and renewable energy sources to achieve net zero in construction and operation. A first for both Willmott Dixon and the customer North Tyneside Council. To achieve this, the project design was enhanced following a lifecycle carbon assessment to reduce the building’s construction, operation and end-of-life footprint. Overall, embodied carbon was reduced by 48% or more than 500 tonnes of carbon compared to the baseline design. By enhancing building performance and adding renewables, the building achieves EPC A+ and generates more energy than it consumes annually.

St Andrews House
Zed Pods with Mid Devon District Council

In collaboration with MDDC, ZED PODS designed and built St. Andrews House, six zero-operational-carbon social-rented modular homes on a challenging council-owned brownfield site. Early engagement with stakeholders (400 people) addressed NIMBYISM and win “hearts and minds” (312 out of 314 said yes to sustainable development). Utilising zero-carbon design, low-carbon materials, fabric-first approach, renewables, BIM software, light foundations, and involving day-release prisoners in module manufacturing, the project achieves zero-carbon status. MDDC's team and local supply chain received heat-pump training, and new residents are educated for low-carbon living, making St. Andrews House an exemplary sustainable development on a difficult-to-build brownfield site.