Greengage provided BREEAM assessor and AP services for new student accommodation on the Colchester Campus at the University of Essex.
The project comprises a total of 1,262 rooms for undergraduate students across five blocks, with a mixture of ensuite rooms and those with a shared bathroom. Staff services and launderette facilities are also provided, and the blocks are surrounded by landscaped outdoor space.
Greengage was involved with the project from the early design stages in 2018, developing the initial BREEAM strategy and then working with the project team throughout design and construction to ensure the BREEAM targets were maintained, including negotiating major design changes.
The project achieved a BREEAM Very Good rating, which included the following key features:
- Highest possible score under the Considerate Constructors Scheme, demonstrating a high level of site management and community consideration;
- A high level of energy performance, including a significant improvement between design and construction;
- Air source heat pumps providing hot water, resulting in a significant CO2 reduction;
- Electric vehicle charging for the few parking spaces on site;
- Large areas of outdoor amenity space;
- Increased biodiversity value over the existing site, including native hedges, wildflower meadows, new trees, planting and bird and bat boxes; and
- Significant reduction in runoff rate compared to existing site, thereby reducing flood risk.
