24 August 2010
A project to transform the offices of utility company Severn Trent
Water in Shelton, Shrewsbury, into new low-energy offices has
received planning permission.
The office, designed by Glenn Howells Architects, is being
developed as a ‘pavilion within a landscape setting’ - a modern
take on the traditional out-of-town office shed.
Capita Lovejoy is providing landscape architecture services on
the scheme which comprises a 28,000 sq ft building featuring the
latest green technology to ensure low energy use, low resource use,
flexibility and low impact on the surrounding environment.
Sustainable materials, including recycled timber, clear glazing and
natural anodised aluminium, will be used on the building which is
expected to achieve an ‘Excellent’ BREEAM rating.
The landscape proposals are driven by four key aspirations: to
create a productive landscape of allotments and fruit trees
allowing employees to build social relationships and share their
produce; to protect the groundwater aquifer whilst managing
rainwater run-off through a network of sustainable urban drainage
systems and establishing a series of new aquatic habitats; to
create a series of ‘social’ spaces, which provide high quality
external meeting and gathering areas for employees; and to preserve
and enhance the existing woodland character of the site.
The building will accommodate 223 workstations with associated
meeting and training spaces for Severn Trent Water’s customer
services and credit management departments. In addition, the
building will also feature a 300-cover restaurant that will form
the social hub of the development.
Construction is due to begin on the project later this year.