19/01/10 - Stoke Development Goes For Top Green Standard

 

Under an ambitious programme that tests green construction methods to the limit, a new city centre development being built by Seddon for the North Staffs YMCA, is aiming for the highest sustainable accreditation in the UK.

 

Seddon are renovating and redeveloping existing YMCA facilities in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, to create a Young Persons Village on the site – and are aiming for a BREEAM Outstanding rating for the project.

 

If successful, the building will be among a handful in the UK achieving the standard.

 

BREEAM, from BRE Global, (the Building Research Establishment) is the leading environmental rating tool for buildings around the world. Outstanding is the highest standard that can be achieved under the standard.

 

Simon Guy of BRE Global, said: “If BREEAM Outstanding is achieved at the North Staffs YMCA, it will be one of only a handful of buildings with this rating in the UK - and it will represent a great achievement.”

 

With a contract value of around £7 million, the two-year, phased design and build project involves the creation of a campus for young people at the site, housing international standard professional sports facilities - including a refurbished boxing club and climbing wall – as well as offices and new accommodation facilities.

 

Danny Flynn, chief executive of the North Staffs YMCA, said: “We are creating a development fit for the 21st Century and it is important to focus on the environment as much as possible.

 

“Sustainability is a major issue for young people and the biggest challenge for the green movement is a generational one which says ‘it’s the older generation that have made all the mess and we ourselves cannot carry on doing that.’

 

“That’s why we have gone for the BREEAM Outstanding assessment and the young people using these facilities will be able to fly a green flag with pride over this development.”

 

To achieve the BREEAM Outstanding rating, the latest in sustainable construction techniques are being introduced.

 

These include the introduction of a bio mass heating system, which involves a large-scale wood burning stove to power the entire development.

 

A green sedum roof is also been built, which will provide a habitat for wildlife and help drain water more effectively.

 

Other features include a solar wall, designed to blend in with little effect to the external appearance of the building, whilst trapping the sun’s rays to help power the building.

 

Low energy lighting is also being introduced and all excavated materials are being reused at the development, in line with the aim for zero waste being sent to landfill. The demolition waste has been crushed on-site and re-used to build driveways within the development, as well as making up recycled aggregate in the concrete used on site.

 

All timber is from sustainable sources and Seddon is working to a sourcing policy for sustainability-produced products within a 30 kilometre radius of the construction area.

 

Seddon Project Manager, Mike Quinn, is overseeing the BREEAM Outstanding accreditation process. He has previously managed a

number of BREEAM Excellent developments.

 

Mike said: “This is a really challenging programme, particularly as the project involves new build and refurbishment works.

 

“We are delighted to be at the forefront of innovative construction works, which will help shape the future of modern building methods.”

 

Designers for the development are Terence O’Rourke Limited.

 

A video of the project has been developed and is available to view at Seddon’s You Tube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/Seddontv

 

 

 

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Notes To Editors

 

MPEG 4 and Quicktime versions of the video can be forwarded for use via FTP platform.

 

The Young Persons Village is been built by J & S Seddon Building a construction and maintenance company, with headquarters in Stoke-on-Trent and regional offices across Britain.

 

J & S Seddon Building is a Seddon Group Limited company, one of Britain’s major privately owned construction companies, with an annual turnover in excess of £250 million, which employs 1,750 people.

 

Seddon Group is a corporate partner of The Christie, one of Europe's leading cancer centres.

 

J & S Seddon Building contact - Mike Gabriel, Brand Manager - 01782 599511

 

J & S Seddon Building Ltd

P.O. Box 13

55 Duke Street

Fenton

Stoke-on-Trent

ST4 3NN

 

Contact details for the North Staffs YMCA

 

North Staffs YMCA

Edinburgh House

Harding Road

Hanley

Stoke-on-Trent

ST1 3AE

 

 

Reception:  01782 222376

Fax:            01782 864530

 

 

http://www.northstaffsymca.org.uk

 

 

Press release written and issued by Jane Shepherd, Shepherd PR www.shepherd-pr.com

 

01538 308685/308099

 

 jane@shepherd-pr.com