Waterfront Business Park, Dudley

The built environment is responsible for about 37% of all carbon emissions globally. So improving energy efficiency is of the most important factors in achieving Net Zero carbon emissions.

Meanwhile the rise in e-commerce – accelerated by the pandemic – has driven greater investment in urban and last-mile logistics; and factors such as use diversification and re-shoring are helping to sustain demand.

So low-carbon logistics facilities are becoming increasingly attractive to organisations as a way to meet consumer demand, cut operating costs, accelerate their own Net Zero journey by reducing emissions, and future-proof their real estate portfolio against incoming regulation.

In 2019, Bridges acquired the Waterfront Business Park development, which comprised nine (mostly vacant) industrial and office buildings.

These units have since been sustainably refurbished for sale to investors and owner-occupiers.

The sustainable refurbishment of the vacant buildings incorporates energy-/waterefficient initiatives such as new VRV Heat Pumps, LED lighting fittings, low-flush toilets and water fittings, low Volatile Organic Compounds products such as water-based paints, cradle-to-cradle certified ceiling tiles and BREEAM A+ certified carpets – providing high quality, Grade ‘A’ office space. The estate is procuring renewable energy for the common areas.

Ulitmately, we estimate the nine refurbished units, once fully occupied, will support up to 300 jobs, revitalising a site in an underserved area that is also classified as an Enterprise Zone.