Greengage provided an extensive range of sustainability support to help transform a former Victorian police station into a BREEAM Outstanding hotel, preserving its historic character and significantly reducing environmental impact.
The project involved the redevelopment of the former Victorian-era police station to create a 212-bedroom hub by Premier Inn hotel in London Farringdon (Old Bailey). Many of the heritage features have been carefully retained, including the entrance and an atrium that links the existing and new parts of the building.
Credit: Premier Inn
Working alongside the wider project team from the pre-planning stages in 2020 through to completion in 2026, we provided a comprehensive range of sustainability services.
Key sustainability outcomes supported by Greengage include:
- Achieving BREEAM Outstanding, demonstrating exemplar overall environmental performance.
- Operational energy use calculated to be much lower than typical benchmark hotels of this size.
- Significant carbon savings from reusing the existing building, supported by smaller carbon studies throughout the design to inform material choice, such as façade options.
- Circularity principles included in the design:
- A non-structural façade using a Techcrete composite panel system reduced site waste and enables easier replacement during the building lifecycle.
- A steel frame with bolted connections to support future adaptability and disassembly.
- Lightweight partitioning for flexible internal layouts.
- Durable, corrosion-resistant cladding designed for longevity.
- 100% landfill diversion of excavation, demolition and construction waste, supported by prefabricated materials use and supplier take-back schemes that reduced packaging waste.
- A significant biodiversity uplift through a biodiverse roof, planting, and bird and bat boxes.
The project is a fantastic example of how heritage buildings can be re-used and upgraded to meet modern requirements, reducing operational and embodied carbon while retaining the building’s unique historic features.
