Environmental Certification

St. Johns College Cambridge

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The Community Hub at St. John’s College comprised the demolition of the existing 1970s buttery dining room, allowing for the construction of a modern replacement. An area of the Grade-I listed Second Court was refurbished to form a new café and bar space for the College.

The scope of works included the strip out and refurbishment of the existing bar to create a new bar and café. The project comprised the demolition of the existing 1970s buttery dining room, allowing for the construction of a modern replacement. An area of the Grade-I listed Second Court was refurbished to form a new café and bar space for the College. The scheme delivered a BREEAM Excellent rating in a listed building, supporting the wider decarbonisation and future proofing of the college estate.

Envision were appointed by Barnes Construction to act as Site Sustainability Champion/BREEAM AP (Site) to ensure they complied with all their BREEAM obligations and to maximise on site-sustainability. As part of this role, we:

  • Worked with the project team, including the client, to consider the links between BREEAM issues and assist them in achieving and if possible going beyond the design intent, to maximise the project’s performance against the agreed performance targets throughout the Construction, Handover and Close Out stages.
  • Monitored construction progress against the performance targets agreed throughout all stages where decisions critically impact BREEAM performance.
  • Proactively identified risks and opportunities related to the procurement and construction process and the achievement of the targets by design team.
  • Provided feedback to the constructors and the project team as appropriate, to support them in taking corrective actions and achieving their agreed performance targets.
  • Monitored and, where relevant, coordinated the generation of appropriate evidence by the project team and the provision to the assessor.

Envision have extensive experience advising contractor’s on achieving BREEAM and enhancing on-site sustainability. We held dedicated workshop’s with the site team to review the sustainability requirements and to identify areas for improvement. These included:

  • Identifying routes for reducing on-site waste generation;
  • Identifying and implementing biodiversity protection measures
  • Co-ordinating reporting of material quantities for carbon reporting

Envision continue to support a wide range of clients on their on-site sustainability monitoring and reporting.

Curzon Cineman

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The Curzon Cinema in Mayfair is a timeless emblem of cinematic heritage, however in recent years has fallen into decline. 38 Curzon Lease Limited is embarking on a transformative journey to retain and revitalise the culturally important site, breathing new life into the Grade 2 listed building while championing cutting-edge sustainability practices. The essence of the project lies in the seamless amalgamation of Curzon Cinema and the existing restaurant. From the basement to the second floor, the redevelopment not only ensures the retention and reuse of the existing Cinema use, but also enhances additional cinema-focused ancillary activities. Envision spearheaded the sustainability strategy for the site, helping to navigate the complex planning process with a sustainability and energy strategy which pays full respect to the constraints of the existing building.

Envision provided a comprehensive suite of services aligning with the project’s ambitious goals:

  • Developed a sustainability strategy, preserving the historical significance of Curzon Cinema.
  • Conducted a BREEAM Pre-Assessment against RFO 2014 criteria, striving for a minimum BREEAM Very Good rating.
  • Coordinated with various stakeholders and conducted a Design Team Workshop to review options, ensuring alignment with BREEAM goals.
  • Undertook an energy assessment and emission reduction strategy following the GLA Guidance on Energy Assessment (2022) for major refurbishment. This detailed process aimed to showcase that the development has made the fullest contribution to minimizing CO₂ emissions, in line with Policy 36 of the Westminster City Plan (2021).
  • Undertook thermal comfort analysis to demonstrate how the building could maintain comfortable and efficient year round operating temperature, whilst introducing new glazing and openable windows.

Envision navigated the Grade 2 listed constraints of the building, ensuring the decarbonisation strategy respected the historical significance of the building whilst aligning with the Westminster City Plan. Considering London’s urban heat island effects, an in-depth TM52 overheating analysis was conducted, demonstrating compliance with CIBSE TM52: 2013 methodology for occupied spaces. Envision’s robust energy strategy, overcoming the constraints of the listed building status, included measures such as glazing replacement, transitioning to an all-electric scheme, and upgrading ventilation systems. This resulted in a 28.65% reduction in CO₂ emissions, significantly contributing to Westminster City Plan goals and aligning with future climate objectives through an all-electric solution.

  • The proposals centre on retaining and reusing the existing Curzon Cinema building with minimal interventions, preserving London’s built heritage. Key sustainable design features include selective strip-out of low-quality features, exploration of material reuse, and a commitment to at least 95% waste diversion from landfill. The project embraces a car-free site, secure cycle parking, water efficiency measures, waste storage alignment with BREEAM standards, and attaining ‘Air Quality Neutral’ status, showcasing unwavering dedication to environmental responsibility . Envision’s expertise in delivering sustainability and energy assessments shaped the success of the Curzon Cinema Redevelopment.

Rugby Endoscopy Unit

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Due to the growing demand of patients requiring a range of endoscopy procedures, the St Cross Hospital site in Rugby was identified as an area to expand the service capacity for its patients. The development site was vacant, but considered to be a brownfield site as it was previously occupied by a non-clinical building, with associated car parking and a small substation which was previously demolished. The project consists of a new build two storey building which accommodates three endoscopy suites with associated support areas including patient recovery, staff facilities and plant space. The scheme is targeting a BREEAM New Construction 2018 Excellent rating.

Envisions scope covers a range of services including:

  • BREEAM Assessment services
  • BREEAM Advisory Professional support
  • Life cycle cost analysis relevant to BREEAM credit Man 02
  • Life cycle assessment relevant to BREEAM credit Mat 01
  • Sustainable procurement plan support relevant to BREEAM credit Mat 03
  • A pre-demolition audit relevant to BREEAM credit Wst 01

BREEAM Excellent broadly represents best practice, in terms of the top 10% of UK New non-domestic buildings achieving the standard. Our trusted and knowledgeable BREEAM Advisory Professionals, and BREEAM Assessors, use their expertise to guide the design team to target sustainability measures that are the most beneficial for them. The combination of services showcases how Envision can provide not only BREEAM Assessment support and guidance, but also supplementary BREEAM services which enable the achievement of BREEAM credits for the scheme. This demonstrates our position as a one-stop shop to assisting the achievement of high BREEAM ratings for our clients.

TWI Granta Park

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Granta Park is a partnership between TWI and BioMed Realty Trust, Inc. offering a purpose-built Science Park covering 120 acres. Launched in 1997, Granta Park is home to World-leading companies as well as offering smaller office and R&D/laboratory space.

TWI is one of the world’s foremost independent research and technology organisations, with expertise in materials joining and engineering processes. Project Reform focuses on TWI’s ambition to transform parts of its estate at Granta Park to enable the company to deliver its core business operations and maintain its headquarters, whilst consolidating operations to reflect changing working patterns post Covid -19.

The proposals involved a new masterplan, which focused on retaining existing high quality buildings, whilst redeveloping certain existing buildings to attract new tenants. All within an enhanced landscape setting. The objective was to provide renewed facilities which place wellbeing and environmental efficiency at the heart of its design. 

With a site of just under 10 hectares, Envision has worked closely with TWI to define the sustainability strategy for the estate up to the submission of an outline planning application which was approved in January 2024. The scheme delivers a total footprint across the entire TWI estate of over 64,000 sqm of floorspace for offices, laboratories, training facilities and workshops, in a high-quality design led by Hawkins Brown and managed by No6 Developments.

Envision provided a multi – disciplinary team to provide a coordinated sustainability strategy for the scheme. Our support included MEP feasibility to review the site’s existing buildings and the opportunity to move away from gas led systems to more efficient heat pump led solutions.

Envision developed the sustainability objectives for the project, the operational energy assessment, the BREEAM certification strategy and the water neutrality strategy.

The team worked closely with officers in South Cambridgeshire, as well as the Design Review Panel to justify the redevelopment proposals. Through the application’s determination various challenges emerged, including the concern with water scarcity restricting decisions on new development floorspace within the region. Envision demonstrated by calculation that the proposed development following its new floorspace strategy would implement water efficiency measures in both its new and existing buildings, such that it could continue to operate within existing water use levels. This would be achievable through high levels of water efficiency and rainwater capture and re-use.

Otley Care Home

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The Wharfeside Care Home at Otley is the latest care home design that provides accommodation for up to 66 residents plus auxiliary spaces for lounging, entertainment, hygiene and medical treatments as required over 3 storeys. The care home has been constructed in the plan format of a crescent and has been specifically designed to provide a dementia friendly space throughout.

The care home is located just on the edge of Otley town centre and is part of wider development which includes new and refurbished retail units whilst overlooking the River Wharfe. The Care Home is constructed in a mixture of stonework with feature panels Cedral horizontal cladding panels with and slate tiled roof.

Envision offered two key services towards this project:

⦁ An initial technical BREEAM Care Home review to analyse and address how LNT’s latest care home design aligns with BREEAM New Construction standards.
⦁ Completion of a BIU V6 Assessment on a flagship care home to create a design framework on how LNT homes should be delivered moving forward.

  • By conducting a thorough technical BREEAM care home review Envision were able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the new design model and were able to highlight that with only a few minor alteration to the specification, the latest design model care homes could achieve at minimum a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standard against the BREEAM New Construction criteria, as long as the location dependent factors are also achieved.
  • Prior to engagement with Envision, LNT had never managed to completed a BREEAM assessment through to Post-Construction Stage and had at best achieved BREEAM ‘Very Good’ for the design against older standards. Off the back of this Envision produced a report which showed a clear pathway of what would need to occur for BREEAM to be streamlined into standard practice for LNT’s care home procurement moving forward.
  • Secondly, Envision also conducted a BIU V6 assessment on the most recently constructed LNT care home at the time, The Wharfeside Care Home in Otley, and by working with the team at LNT, Envision were able to deliver LNTs and the UKs first, and currently only, BREEAM-In-Use ‘Outstanding’ building in the supportive housing category.

Garsington Opera

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Garsington Opera House is a rural development on Wallace Hill Farm in Stokenchurch, Buckinghamshire. Envision is providing BREEAM Assessor and AP services to Conamar Building Services Ltd, appointed to deliver the Design and Build contract for the development of the Arts Hub on the site, a new rehearsal building, accommodating opera rehearsal rooms, performance space, storage for props, costumes and scenery, as well as offices and a café. The design includes improvement of the surrounding environment with increased biodiversity and implementation of swales in the hillside to improve drainage.

Envision has advised Conamar from the tender phase through to practical completion to ensure the targeted ‘Very Good’ BREEAM rating is achieved. We have supported the project through regular site visits, acting in the role of BREEAM Site AP, advising on observations where improvements could be made in relation to environmental impacts, biodiversity, carbon reduction, management of waste and wellbeing of the construction team. Currently, the project is near to completion; when the BREEAM post-construction audit will be carried out and the associated assessment submitted to the BRE for ‘Very Good’ certification.

During the tendering phase, Envision reviewed the current BREEAM strategy on behalf of Conamar, identifying the potential risks and opportunities in advance of contract agreement. We have subsequently worked with both Conamar and the client, Garsington Opera, to maximise the credits achieved. For example, the Flood Risk Assessment that was produced in the early design stages for the site confirmed that Wallace Hill Farm was at low risk from flooding from any sources. However, it was identified that due to an increase in car-parking on the crest of the hill, improvements would be required to the permeability of the land. The car parking area has therefore been constructed with geogrid grass surfaces. The land was built-up with recycled aggregate (retained from the excavation on site) and the geogrid installed upon it. This system ensures stabilisation of the aggregate below whilst simultaneously allowing grass to grow through, enabling surface water drainage. Just meters from the geogrid car-parking area are a set of purpose-built swales which were one of the first installations to the new development and have therefore had opportunity to settle into the environment. The swales have been seeded, to increase biodiversity and they now blend beautifully with the scenic aesthetic of the Garsington Opera setting, with seemingly natural undulations of the land – which now accommodates a happy herd of sheep! Further drainage improvements on site include a green roof, which is also being seeded, in order to accommodate a range of insects and species of flora; this will also reduce the overall volume of water discharged from the site.