National development partnership, The English Cities Fund (ECF), has signed a major deal with accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP, which will see it take 23,000 sq ft across three floors at Eden, one of the UK’s most sustainable office buildings.
Once complete, Eden will have the capability to run on 100% renewable electricity and has been designed using the UK Green Building Council’s 2035 – 2050 standards. It’s ‘living façade’ has been designed to remove air pollutants including carbon, reduce urban temperatures offering thermal benefits to occupiers, and delivering a 174% net gain in the biodiversity of the area.
BDO in the UK has committed to running a Net-Zero firm, and last month announced that its near-term and long-term targets for achieving Net-Zero have been validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). The firm’s transition to Net-Zero involves a near-term target of halving its absolute scope 1 and 2 Green House Gas (GHG) emissions by 2030. In support of this, BDO’s ‘How We Work’ workstream has been established to reduce it’s operational emissions, adopt renewable energy and move towards working from sustainable office spaces.
Eden’s pioneering, holistic approach to sustainability was a significant factor in attracting BDO to one of the region’s most sought-after commercial neighbourhoods. Eden is a £36 million, 115,000 sq ft, 12-storey office building, complete with a stunning roof terrace at New Bailey in Salford, developed by ECF – a strategic joint venture between nationwide placemaker, Muse, Legal & General, one of the UK’s leading financial services groups and major global investor, and the government’s housing and regeneration agency, Homes England.
Eden will be home to BDO’s Manchester team from early 2024. The businesses BDO works with are the entrepreneurially-minded companies that make up what the firm calls the Economic Engine – from owner managed businesses, private equity-backed companies with scale-up ambitions to listed entities.
Ella Woodward, development manager at ECF, commented: “Agreeing a deal with BDO to make Eden, one of the UK’s most sustainable office buildings, its new Manchester home has been met with great excitement by all involved.
“BDO absolutely shares our values around delivering a brighter, more sustainable future for all. Together with our partners, we’ve truly pushed the envelope with Eden to see what can be achieved when we work together with a common goal.
“Demand to take space at Eden has been incredible and we’re looking forward to welcoming BDO to Eden when it completes, as we add yet another high-calibre business to the New Bailey community.”
Ed Dwan, partner at BDO in the North West said: “Our move marks the start of an exciting new chapter for our North West team, which has grown significantly over the past seven years. In this time, we’ve expanded our headcount significantly with sector and subject matter specialists, welcomed record numbers of trainees and all adopted new ways of working. As the firm continues to invest in agile working, we will create a flexible and inclusive space in the one of the most vibrant locations in the region.
Angela Cross, the new Regional Managing Partner for BDO in the North West commented; “We are committed to sustainable growth as a firm and in how we advise our economic engine clients. With its innovative design and sustainability credentials, Eden is the perfect address to support BDO’s future success in the region. I look forward to welcoming our fantastic team of around 500 people to this state of the art facility next Spring.”
This news follows BDO’s announcement that the firm is building a Sustainability and ESG Hub, which brings together specialist capabilities to advise businesses on their own sustainability transitions. BDO has a team of specialists to advise businesses on complex matters like green finance, sustainable development, the circular economy or the development of the hydrogen economy.
Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “I would like to welcome BDO LLP to Eden in Salford. Eden features Europe’s largest living green wall, made up of over 350,000 plants, and is ultra-low energy by being net zero in operation. This has helped to put Salford on the global map once again and I hope that BDO LLP and their employees enjoy the huge benefits from working here.”
Designed by Make Architects – the architectural practice behind the Three New Bailey and Four New Bailey office buildings – Eden aims to be the standard-bearer in environmentally-conscious development and occupier wellbeing.
Eden will be kitted out with the latest in smart tech solutions to improve resource efficiency, with upgraded insulation in line with the Passivhaus standard, enhanced ventilation to improve the flow of fresh, clean air, along with an air source heat pump to provide low-carbon heating, hot water, and cooling.
During the design stage of the scheme’s inception, partners undertook early-stage, whole-life and upfront embodied carbon assessments to eliminate waste and reduce the building’s whole carbon footprint. Sustainable materials have been used throughout Eden where possible, such as recycled steel for reinforcement.
The jewel in Eden’s crown will be the living façade, which at 36,000 sq. ft will be the second largest in the world and the biggest in Europe. Alongside the removal of air pollutants, reduction of urban temperatures and support for local biodiversity, the façade has a range of health benefits, with Eden designed to enhance occupier health, wellbeing, productivity and will embrace the WELL Building Standard principles. Eden is also one of a small number of LETI pioneer projects and is on target to achieve a BREEAM Outstanding rating.
Eden is committed to having its operational performance independently verified by NABERS UK and is currently one of only three registered projects in the UK targeting to reach a Design in Performance rating of 5.5 stars (out of a possible six). NABERS UK is a simple reliable system for rating the energy efficiency of buildings.
Eden is a key part of ECF’s £1bn regeneration of the Salford Central area of the city into a diverse mixed-use destination, complete with a bustling commercial district, alongside a vibrant community of homes and amenities, to provide something to suit everyone’s needs.
Retained letting agents on the building are JLL, Cushman and Wakefield, and OBI. Rob Yates at Cushman & Wakefield acted on behalf of BDO in the acquisition.
