KJ Tait were appointed by Aberdeen Standard Investments as BREEAM Assessors on this new build warehouse and office block comprising a total development area of 290,000 ft². The warehouse height is 18m to the haunch and the office block comprises two storeys and roof garden.

The development includes a hub building for warehouse and lorry staff, a large lorry yard, a manned gatehouse and an external MUGA pitch. The warehouse will be provided as a shell and core and the offices and hub building will be fitted out to CAT A.

The gatehouse is designed as a fully functioning control facility.

The project is designed to achieve an EPC A rating and is targeting a BREEAM New Construction 2018 Outstanding and to be a Net Zero Carbon development. KJ Tait are the BREEAM Assessors on this project and are also providing BREEAM Approved Professional services.

For a project to achieve BREEAM Outstanding, all credits are required to be maximised and the Assessor requires a detailed understanding of BREEAM 2018 assessment criteria. With this knowledge credits are identified and targeted to achieve an Outstanding rating.

For this project, we agreed assessment criterion with BRE which reflected that the warehouse space would only be constructed to a shell standard as the usage of the warehouse would vary depending on Tenant requirements. This was to avoid stripping out systems which were not in line with Tenant requirements. This required extensive early involvement to ensure all available credits at the project inception and feasibility design stages were maximised.

The BREEAM rating is complemented by the EPC A target rating and a Net Zero Operational Carbon development. These requirements will ensure that the energy efficiency of the project is maximised. The design includes initiatives such as:

• • Extensive PV cells on roof
  • No fossil fuels used
  • Excellent fabric thermal performance
  • Use of ASHPs to control temperatures in office areas, the core areas and the hot water installation
  • High efficiency LED lighting in office and core areas
  • Lighting controls
  • Heat recovery in ventilation systems
  • Energy monitoring

Other key initiatives adopted to maximise the BREEAM credits include:

• • • Cycle storage, lockers and showers
    • 28No active EV chargers
    • External lighting which has negligible upwards and off-site light pollution and are at colour temperatures favoured by bats
    • Maximisation of natural lighting in offices and warehouse space
    • Rainwater harvesting and water consumption efficient appliances
    • Carrying out a Whole Life Carbon assessment
    • A site wide ecology plan
    • Contractor’s set up and works targeted credits clearly identified
    • Excellent outdoor facilities including a MUGA and external fitness equipment to enhance the health and wellbeing of Users.

Our role includes monitoring of contract detailed design and installation works to ensure they do not compromise the ability to target an Outstanding BREEAM rating.