62-67 Suttons Business Park

Planning Application 171903 – New Warehousing unit at Units 62-67 Suttons Business Park

Comments from ACER, The Whitegates Residents Association

ACER wishes to Comment on this Application

ACER is concerned that the opportunity to build a carbon neutral building in respect of energy running costs is being missed due to the developer meeting the low carbon recovery threshold set by WBC policy CC05, when a 100% energy recovery is achievable at a very small percentage increase in capital cost to the development.

ACER wishes to bring the following points to your attention:

1. The use of good insulation materials and thermally efficient glass is noted.
2. The use of energy efficient led lighting throughout the property is commended.
3. The use of modern air source heat pumps for heating and cooling is commended.
4. The total energy requirement for heating, lighting and hot water is stated as 36 Kw as stated on page 13 of the ‘Energy Statement’ document submitted with the plans.
5. Photo-voltaic (PV) solar panels are considered by the consultant to be the best solution to meet the 10% carbon offset contribution stipulated by WBC policy CC05, however the total power produced would be a maximum of only 11Kw to meet the requirements as stated on page 7 of the consultant’s ‘Energy Statement’
6. To put this 11kw figure into perspective, the typical after-market solar installation on domestic properties is 4Kw, i.e. for this large industrial property with a roof many times bigger than a house, the proposal for solar panels is only two and a quarter times bigger than would be installed on a typical house, and generate only 42% of the buildings energy needs to keep it ticking over. If we then add the 30Kw of tenant’s equipment (as stated on page 13), which is NOT required to be taken into consideration by WBC, we then see that the actual contribution of the solar panels is only 19.5 % of the 56.36Kw total energy used in the working building.
7. The opportunity to install a significantly larger solar panel system on such a large roof exists.
8. The opportunity to market and rent such an energy neutral building would surely be prestigious to Standard Life and attractive to potential tenants who could be charged a small premium to offset the additional cost involved.

In summary, the existing proposal has good energy underpinnings with the potential to have a 100% energy offset from solar panels on the large warehouse roof.  This common- sense approach would bring prestige to WBC and Standard Life and would please many residents as well.

Planning Application on WDC website