- G.Park Blue Planet scoops prestigious sustainable design accolade -  

Gazeley, global provider of sustainable logistics buildings, and Chetwoods architects, leading design and sustainability architects, last week (4th September) received a major accolade at the prestigious 2009 LEAF Awards for their speculative development at G.Park Blue Planet, Chatterley Valley.  

The ‘Best Sustainable Development’ award recognises the groundbreaking design, which has made this site the recipient of the first ever BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) “Outstanding” (design stage) rating.  

The LEAF Awards, which is now in its sixth year, honours the architects designing the buildings that are setting the benchmark for the international architectural community.  

Jonathan Fenton-Jones, Director of Sustainability and Global Procurement at Gazeley, said: “We believe we have created an industry blue print for cutting-edge developments with G.Park Blue Planet. Winning such a prestigious award is testament to our business commitment to delivering sustainable logistics buildings for our customers.  We have long standing relationships with the partners that have worked with us to deliver the first BREEAM ‘outstanding’ rated development.”  

Located on a former colliery site, G.Park Blue Planet at Chatterley Valley is a 35,500 sq m development. It houses the UK’s first truly carbon positive logistics development, with its own biomass micro power station. What sets this development apart is that 100% of the energy and heat are to be supplied from renewable sources. This has helped it exceed the UK Governments Climate Change Act targets for both 2020 and 2050 in 2009.  

Practice principal, Laurie Chetwood, says: “We are delighted to win this award, as we believe G.Park Blue Planet really gives something back to both the environment and community. The project provides a truly sustainable solution for this commercially sensitive building type. Our design addresses all areas of sustainability, including the social and community aspects, and incorporates the latest environmental techniques and technologies.”  

Gazeley partnered with Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and regional development agency, Advantage West Midlands (AWM) to create the world’s greenest logistics developments as part of the first phase of the wider Chatterley Valley park, North Staffordshire.