Oxford science facility earns record sustainability rating

Property companies Wrenbridge and Buccleuch scored the UK's first ever 100 per cent on a BREEAM Outstanding certificate for their Nova science scheme.

Director of Wrenbridge, Alistair Dunsdon, said: "We are absolutely delighted to have turned our ambitious vision into a reality, through this landmark development.

"To be recognised as the first ever scheme to achieve a 100 per cent BREEAM certificate is remarkable and something we are extremely proud of.

Nova has achieved the UK's first ever 100 per cent on a BREEAM Outstanding certificate (Image: Wrenbridge)

“This achievement was made possible by the innovation, commitment and collaboration with our trusted partners Buccleuch."

This achievement is an important milestone for Wrenbridge and Buccleuch, which have delivered several developments over a decade of doing business together.

For IM Properties, which provided funding for the project, it underlines its belief in the plans to transform the site into a new 45,000 sq ft facility for mid-tech, research and development and lab use, bringing the site back into economic use.

Nova is close to two of Oxford’s most influential science areas - Oxford Science Park and Arc Oxford.

Wrenbridge and Buccleuch partnered up a couple of years ago to acquire the former gas holder site from SGN.

The gas holder was decommissioned and demolished and the Nova project began.

Nova has achieved the UK's first ever 100 per cent on a BREEAM Outstanding certificate (Image: Wrenbridge)

Due to the former use and challenging nature of the site, Wrenbridge engaged with the local authority's land contamination officer as well as the Environment Agency.

Planning permission and funding by IM Properties followed and construction began last summer.

James Feltham, a director of Wrenbridge, said: "We are constantly pushing ourselves to provide the best possible buildings to suit occupiers' requirements with a keen focus on sustainability, this achievement is testament to that.

“We hope that this sets the benchmark going forward and that we can continue to improve our product along with our trusted and valued design team and contractors.”

Nova has achieved the UK's first ever 100 per cent on a BREEAM Outstanding certificate (Image: Wrenbridge)

Sandy Smith, development director at Buccleuch Property, added: "We are so pleased to have delivered another successful project with Wrenbridge, and in doing so, transforming what was a redundant gas holding tower into the UK’s highest scoring BREEAM project ever.

"Working collaboratively with all stakeholders has really helped deliver the vision that we and Wrenbridge had for this asset, and we are delighted to have funded another deal with IM Properties.”

Nova has on-site renewables, 46 cycle parking spaces and 25 per cent of its 50-space car park allocated for electric vehicles.

It also has a wildlife garden with pond and landscaped breakout and amenity space.