Silbury House, the office block in Milton Keynes central undergoing a sustainability focused transformation has been completed.
The RO Group, a property developer, has proudly announced that its flagship sustainability focused property in Central Milton Keynes, Silbury House, has achieved practical completion. This was celebrated at an event at Silbury House on 27 June, and attended by contributors to its pioneering success, and property professionals from the region and London.
John Tarbet, Head of Carbon Management at Planet Mark, highlighted the building's commitment to environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and health and wellbeing promotion within the built environment. He also highlighted the fundamental importance of sustainability focused refurbishment of existing building stock, with Silbury House being an exemplar of this approach with its exceptional credentials in design, material selection, energy efficiency, water usage, waste management, and indoor environment quality; firmly establishing it as a frontrunner in modern, sustainable commercial real estate.
John Tarbet said, "Silbury House is a testament to what can be achieved when sustainability is integrated into the core of building design and operation. By prioritising environmental impact, social responsibility, and occupant health, the property sets a new standard for commercial properties. It is a shining example of how sustainable practices can drive down carbon emissions and enhance the wellbeing of its occupants."
The RO Group has worked with Planet Mark for three years to measure and reduce its carbon footprint and retain Planet Mark Business Certification, gaining valuable insights needed into the necessary measurement journey to transition the business to net zero.
Edward Rowlandson, Group Managing Director at the RO, commented, "We are immensely proud of Silbury House and thank all those that have helped us achieve our goal of providing the most sustainable office building in Milton Keynes. This building reflects our holistic approach to sustainability, incorporating various solutions, including smart machine learning technology, renewable energy generation and a wide variety of wellbeing initiatives. We remain dedicated to environmental excellence and to improving the social and health aspects of this flagship building’s performance."
Silbury House is the first building in the UK on track to receive a WELL Performance Rating, a roadmap for creating and certifying spaces that advance human health and wellbeing in accordance with the WELL building standard. The office block also has an Energy Performance Certificate (ECA) rating A, joining only 2% of non-domestic buildings in England and Wales with this rating.
The RO group have also announced that Silbury House has an intelligent water sensor and risk management technology from Infersens, tracking temperature and flow within pipes to minimise wasted water and improve environmental sustainability. In addition to this, the block has also been rewarded a 3-star Fitwel accreditation – only a small number of buildings have achieved this. Fitwel is the world’s leading certification system committed to building health for occupiers and generated by expert analysis of over 7,000 academic research studies. Silbury House is the only building in Milton Keynes with this achievement.
The above is only a few of the key features included in Silbury House’s sustainability focused transformation.
Edward Rowlandson added, "Silbury House represents an ironclad commitment to a future where sustainability is integrated into every aspect of our operations. Attaining both BREEAM 'Outstanding' and an EPC A rating, as well as the highest Fitwel accreditation, will set a new benchmark in the industry.”
Silbury House is not just an environmentally sustainable building; it is also designed to attract tenants who prioritise their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) credentials. The building's features make it a natural choice for businesses looking to enhance their corporate social responsibility profile, in an environment where these credentials are of high importance to employees, and therefore to attracting and retaining talent.
Silbury House’s design places a strong emphasis on occupant health and productivity. Features such as advanced air quality monitors, a new courtyard garden and ergonomic sustainable furniture have created a workspace that promotes employee wellbeing. Research consistently shows that such environments lead to higher productivity, lower absenteeism, and improved overall employee satisfaction. Other features include a new ground floor business lounge, modern shower facilities, secure bicycle storage, as well as eight EV charging points.
The completion of Silbury House marks a significant milestone in sustainable development, offering a model for future projects aiming to combine environmental responsibility with economic viability and social benefits.
