A radical rethink of rebuilding an existing school using a construction model based on reduced carbon has delivered a whole life carbon savings of two-thirds and cut energy consumption in half without a significant cost increase.

The theorectical industry-led project known as Circular Twin involved digitally building a school that had already been completed.

The school was reworked from start to finish and with help from 250 supply chain partners so that each decision and design choice favoured a lower carbon outcome.

Morgan Sindall Construction led the research team, which also drew in experts from procurement specialist SCAPE, architects HLM and Lungfish and consultant Cundall.

The Circular Twin team discarded conventional industry approaches and collaborated taking decisions based on the modelled lifecycle carbon of the building, not cost.

The findings highlight how the early alliance of designers, clients, contractor, and the supply chain can lead to a significant reduction in Whole Life Carbon for modest capital cost uplift.

In comparison to the original school – built in 2017 – Circular Twin achieved:

67% reduction in Whole Life Carbon72% reduction in upfront embodied carbon (EC) (48% reduction in lifecycle EC – this achieves the RIBA 2030 and LETI 2030 Embodied Carbon targets)52% reduction in annual energy consumption39% reduction in forest consumption (for products and 30-year UK offset)CAPEX delivered within standard budgetary parameters with multiple over asset lifetime

Louise Townsend, director of social value and sustainability at Morgan Sindall Construction, said: “This initiative has uncovered a revelation – that low carbon construction is inhibited by our industry’s reliance on traditional design and procurement approaches.

“The outcomes show that achieving low carbon buildings is possible today.

“Ultimately, Circular Twin represents hard evidence of what can be achieved and is a much needed industry-led response to all the urgent challenges we face that will be highlighted at COP26 and have already been made explicit by the climate emergencies declared by local authorities around the country.”

Circular Twin is believed to be the first in the construction industry to put into practice the strategies of the government’s Construction Playbook.

 

 

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Plans have been approved for a £300m themed leisure development off the Golden Mile in Blackpool.

Developer Nikal has teamed up with entertainment business Media Invest Entertainment to develop the Blackpool Central scheme, which will include three indoor entertainment centres, a hotel and restaurants.

The new indoor theme park will including a flying theatre, rides for all the family and the latest immersive virtual reality experiences.

It will also feature a new major public square for live events, such as music concerts and sporting events.

The first phase of development, which received detailed planning includes a 1,300 space multi-storey car park, set to be built by Dutch firm Ballast Needam, which will free up land for future phases which were granted outline planning by Blackpool Council’s Planning Committee.

Construction of the multi-storey car park and restoration of heritage buildings is expected to start in 2022 and will take around two years to complete.

Nikal and Media Entertainment Invest Entertainment will also prepare a detailed planning application for the wider scheme during the delivery of the multi-storey car park and Heritage Quarter.

The site is located on the south western edge of Blackpool town centre just off the Golden Mile

Richard Fee, Chief Executive Officer, Nikal said: This is a key moment for levelling up Blackpool’s visitor economy post COVID.

“Blackpool Central will help transform and future-proof the town’s tourism offer.

“Our lead investor, Alan Murphy, has been behind the project from the beginning and is delighted to see the scheme coming to fruition.

“We have worked hard to ensure that the scheme will complement Blackpool’s current attractions and wider leisure offer.

“This approach will help us to secure game-changing benefits for Blackpool – drawing in 600,000 additional visitors a year and boosting annual spend in the local economy by £75m.

“We are now looking forward to getting spades in the ground to build the multi storey car park and Heritage Quarter, which are the catalysts for delivering our wider vision.”

The scheme is a key part of the Blackpool Town Deal supported by £39.5m of government funding.

 

 

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