Global provider of sustainable logistics space, Gazeley, today announces that its new completed £50 million scheme, G.Park Blue Planet at Chatterley Valley, North Staffordshire is the first development in the world to be awarded the new BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) "Outstanding" rating (design stage). This is the highest sustainable accolade available in property development. 

On average G.Park Blue Planet scored 85.49%, which classifies it as outstanding under the new tougher 2008 ratings for environmental performance introduced in June 2008. The development scored particularly well under the BREEAM rating in the management, health & wellbeing and water (all 100%); energy (87.5%); and waste (85.71%). 

Jonathan Fenton-Jones, Director of Sustainability and Global Procurement at Gazeley said, "Receiving the first BREEAM 'outstanding' rating is the highest recognition for Gazeley's focus on sustainable logistics. With G.Park Blue Planet at Chatterley Valley, we believe we have created an industry blue print for cutting-edge developments. Not only does it deliver significant environmental savings, it also creates total energy and water cost in use savings of up to £300,000 per annum." 

Gazeley partnered with Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and regional development agency, Advantage West Midlands (AWM) to create the world's greenest logistics developments as part of the first phase of the wider Chatterley Valley park, North Staffordshire.  

Located on a former colliery site, G.Park Blue Planet at Chatterley Valley is a 35,500 sq m development that was recently completed. It houses the UK's first truly carbon positive logistics development, with its own biomass micro power station. What sets this development apart is that 100% of the energy and heat is supplied by renewable sources. This has helped it exceed the UK Governments Climate Change Bill targets for both 2020 and 2050 in 2009. 

Paul Gibbon, Director of Sustainability at BRE Global, the developers of BREEAM, said, "Obtaining the first ever BREEAM outstanding is a remarkable achievement. This development scored very highly in all sections of BREEAM and achieved exemplary credits on the key areas of daylighting, reduced CO2 emissions, construction waste management and use of low carbon technologies. What is more the development shows that achieving a high BREEAM standard can also mean lower running costs." 

The sustainability credentials that have led to this prestigious award include:

• Thermally efficient buildings with air tightness and thermal insulation

• Kinetic plates which capture energy every time a vehicle enters or leaves the site

• Efficient systems for further building energy reduction, utilising cutting-edge lighting, maximum use of natural light, under floor heating and an energy panel wall

• The latest solar cell technology implanted into special rooflights which eliminate night time light pollution

• The majority of materials used in the building being either A or A+ rated in BRE Globals' Green Guide to Specification

• The development targets zero waste send to landfill

Steven Holland, Head of Asset Management at regional development agency, Advantage West Midlands, said, "We're delighted to see the hard work at G Park Blue Planet being rewarded. It is truly one of the most exciting developments we have in the West Midlands region. This is a tangible example of moving talk about climate change into demonstrable action, and showcases the West Midlands as a region which is embracing the opportunities of the new low carbon era."

The overall Chatterley Valley park is a joint venture between Advantage West Midlands and the North Staffordshire Regeneration Zone, Newcastle Borough Council, Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Staffordshire County Council. The park totals 70 hectares of land that will be transformed over the next decade, creating a total of around 4,000 jobs.