The project is one of the largest developments currently on-going in the South West of the UK. The site is currently home to several unsightly industrial units and is being transformed into a state of the art office development complete with landscaped gardens.
Richard Hornbrook, the Society’s Chief Executive Designate commenced the works, accompanied by Paul Cullen, Executive Chairman and Managing Director of Moss Construction.
The project is one of the largest developments currently on-going in the South West of the UK. The site will have an innovative and ground breaking heating and cooling system based on geothermal energy. This reduces use of fossil fuels by harnessing the natural temperature stability of the earth’s crust (e.g. similar to the fact that the inside of a cave is warmer than outside ambient temperature in winter and vice versa for summer). In effect you bore into the earth to harness this effect.
Speaking about the new development Chelsea spokesman Andy Barr said, “This is an exciting time in the development of the Society and represents our on-going commitment to keeping the Society’s call centre operations in the U.K”.
Talking about the building work he continued, “We have engaged with local residents at every step of the planning process using methods such as public forums, hand delivering site update letters and meeting with local businesses and organisations and we are delighted that work can now begin”.
The design has been developed to achieve the highest level of accreditation under BREEAM (Building Reserch Establishment Environmental Assessment Method). This is an award that ensures environmental best practice with regards to building work, and Moss will use construction good practice to enhance the BREEAM assessment, including the use of recycled material wherever possible.
MOSS Construction will have a Bio Diversity Champion on site at all times to ensure that the BREEAM requirements will be met and to ensure the construction is carried out to the highest environmental standards.
