New St.Austell Office Scheme Achieves High Energy Performance Grade

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A Priority Sites office scheme in St Austell has exceeded the energy-performance benchmark for a building of its type within the newly-compulsory certification system. 

Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) became compulsory on any buildings sold or rented after 1st October, and the new office scheme, Cannis House has been one of the first in the area to be graded.

The 9,700 sq ft building has scored 47 resulting in a B grade, well above the EPC benchmark for a similar new building of 62, a C grade*, enabling occupiers to make greater savings on energy costs. Estimates suggest that the general stock of office buildings will be rated much lower, at grade F or below.

The compulsory assessment measures the energy efficiency of buildings against a variety of benchmarks including construction, insulation, heating, ventilation and the type of power used.

Priority Sites has achieved the ‘B’ grade for Cannis House, which comprises four office suites, by working closely with the design team and building contractor to achieve the highest build quality.

The new office building, which is regarded as a key component of St Austell’s regeneration, has also achieved a ‘very good’ BREEAM rating, the building industry’s environmental benchmarking scheme.

Miles Carden, Priority Sites’ area development manager commented: “Cannis House is the first new office scheme in the town for decades and the fact that it can boast high energy performance credentials is a further tick in the box for potential occupiers. Energy bills are soaring and costs are now becoming a real issue for small companies. This building has significant future proofing but will also give immediate savings to firms with reduced running costs.

“All Priority Sites’ schemes have been built to a minimum BREEAM rating of ‘very good’ for some time now. Therefore the principle of considering energy-saving materials or features in a new-build is already firmly embedded, and by involving our design team and contractor at an early stage, we can work in partnership to keep any additional costs down.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

*Under the EPC rating, a B grade is secured if the building scores between 26-50; a C grade if the building scores between 51-75.

Priority Sites is a commercial development joint venture owned by The Royal Bank of Scotland and English Partnerships. It provides quality business premises that fit the needs of the companies that regional and local enterprise agencies want to attract, bringing new, long-term jobs to parts of England that need them the most.  Unlike many commercial developers, building is done mainly speculatively, allowing companies to either rent or buy.

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