One of the world's greenest logistics parks, the £50 million G. Park Blue Planet at North Staffordshire's Chatterley Valley, has officially opened its doors for business.

The pioneering development is a joint venture between commercial developers Gazeley, regional development agency Advantage West Midlands, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and the North Staffordshire Regeneration Partnership. 

The launch event saw leading business and property professionals from across the UK gather to view the impressive green scheme, which also recently achieved a world first BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) award.

G.Park Blue Planet achieved an "Outstanding" rating (design stage) by the prestigious environmental assessors, BREEAM - which is the highest sustainable accolade available in property development.

Mick Laverty, Chief Executive at Advantage West Midlands, said:  "G. Park Blue Planet is a truly remarkable example of how the West Midlands is raising the bar for world wide eco-standards and embracing the opportunities of the new low carbon era. 

"This scheme is undoubtedly one of the most exciting developments we have in the region and is also an excellent example of how Advantage West Midlands is driving the West Midlands' economic development by investing in projects where the greatest impact can be made."

Nigel Dolan, Development Director at Gazeley, added: "G.Park Blue Planet is able to deliver extensive positive environmental impacts as well as total energy and water cost in use savings of up to £300,000 per annum. To be able to open this development for business to our customer base when both cost and environmental savings are a big focus is a great achievement."

G.Park Blue Planet at Chatterley Valley is a 35,500 sq m development, which houses the UK's first truly carbon positive logistics development that is achieved without the need for offsetting. 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.

Other sustainability credentials at the scheme include:

• Its own biomass micro power station

• 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 roof lights 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

The recently completed development marks the first phase of the wider Chatterley Valley scheme - which was formerly a colliery site. 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.