Blog: Featured finalist - Oxford Westgate (Laing O'Rouke)

12 June 2018

Sustainability

Project Value: £440m

Type of work: New build

Construction product: Retail

Oxford City Council’s ambitions for the Westgate development were very high; to deliver the most sustainable retail-led scheme in the UK, while ensuring the project remained viable. The sustainability achievements across the shopping centre from designing out waste in the planning stages down to operations at the John Lewis branch level are a great example of the benefits of a collaborative approach between the developer, main contractor, occupant and fit-out contractors, community and other stakeholders.  All parties embraced an ambitious but realistic approach capitalising on the benefits of early engagement, upskilling of the supply chain and significant local procurement.

From offsite manufacture for concrete and M&E products including centralised air source heating to delivering enormous social value, Oxford Westgate has achieved BREEAM Excellent ratings and is one of the most sustainable retail developments in the UK.  The pioneering approach to whole life carbon has played a role in informing the RICS whole life carbon assessment methodology as well as saving 32,500 tonnes of embodied CO₂ – the equivalent of 69,000 airfares from London to New York.

The winner of the Sustainability category will be announced at the awards ceremony and gala dinner on the 28th June at the Royal Lancaster, London. For more information about the event or to book tickets click here.