CARINGTON ESTATE GOES GREEN WITH ITS FIRST CUTTING-EDGE, ECO-FRIENDLY OFFICE DEVELOPMENT IN A REDUNDANT MILTON KEYNES FARMYARD
Moulsoe Business Centre is one of Milton Keynes’ first conversions from barn to eco-friendly office development. It was completed on 2 November and the first tenant, Adoption Plus, moved in on the same day. This project was the first of its kind for property owner Carington Estates and Bedford’s Land and Property Consultants, Robinson and Hall, who have seen the project through from plan to completion.
Renovating the disused barns into cutting-edge working environments took less than 12 months. Now they are packed with energy saving innovations that will not only provide tenants with lower running costs, but will also optimise working conditions.
Air-source heating and cooling units draw in fresh air from outside and create a comfortable working environment. This, coupled with the countryside surroundings and plentiful daylight throughout each office, is expected to lift the morale of anybody who works at the business centre.
Even the lavatories have been designed to use water from underground rainwater harvesting tanks. Energy efficient lighting, some of which is controlled automatically, reduces the risk and cost of leaving lights on in unoccupied areas. Both of these technologies will have a beneficial impact on running costs while helping to protect the environment.
“Moulsoe Business Centre has received a lot of interest since it was completed last month. Enquiries have come in from companies ranging from IT providers and solicitors to construction engineers and accountants. As business premises become more environmentally friendly, utility bills of offices such as those at Mousloe Business Centre could fall significantly compared to those of more traditional offices,” explains Simon Patrick, Associate and Head of Commercial Property Services for Robinson and Hall.
The project was a labour of love for Carington Estates. The barns were of no use for modern farming operations and were likely to deteriorate so conversion into an alternative use was the only option.
Robert Franklin of Robinson & Hall’s Building Surveying department led the design and project management of the office development with lettings being carried out by both Robinson & Hall’s commercial departments in Bedford and Buckingham and Lambert Smith Hampton in Milton Keynes.
“We could not wait to move in to such bright and airy offices. Although the work that has gone into this business centre is largely unseen, it has an enormously positive impact on the working environment. Maintaining a strong sense of wellbeing among staff is incredibly important as they are often dealing with high-pressure situations involving emotionally charged individuals,” explained Joanne Alper of Adoption Plus.
The eco-friendly offices include extensive car parking, sheltered storage for bicycles, high-speed broadband, 24-hour CCTV coverage and are located within easy reach of Junction 14 of the M1 motorway.