CHALLENGE
The client sought to redevelop the iconic Victoria St office building while successfully navigating a complex planning process with Westminster City Council (WCC). From the feasibility stage, a key challenge was supporting the client in making informed redevelopment decisions through the evaluation of the carbon implications of each design option. Working alongside the Savills London Office Project Management team, the project also required compliance with stringent planning policies. The project also required compliance with stringent planning policies and coordination of multiple sustainability certifications to align with both planning requirements and the client’s long-term ESG objectives.
SOLUTION
Savills Earth acted as Sustainability Champions to guide the project through planning. We produced a Sustainability Charter and whole life carbon appraisal for four redevelopment options, enabling the client and design team understand the carbon impacts and achievable targets. For the full planning application, we prepared all required sustainability reports in line with The London Plan and WCC policies.
Our approach focused on retaining the substructure and most of the superstructure while specifying low-carbon materials to reduce embodied emissions. Working closely with the client and marketing agents, we refined the sustainability strategy and delivered a suite of certifications through a combination of in‑house expertise and collaboration with specialist consultants, including BREEAM Excellent, Fitwel 2* (with support from Savills PM Sustainability team), as well as NABERS Design for Performance Target Rating 4.5*, WiredScore Platinum, ActiveScore Platinum, and ModeScore Platinum.
RESULTS
The development is on track to achieve Net Zero carbon, with a 44% reduction in regulated emissions on site. It meets the GLA aspirational benchmark for whole life carbon, as well as the RIBA 2030 and LETI 2030 targets. The project has successfully received planning permission and now has a comprehensive sustainability strategy and certification roadmap, with ongoing management to ensure targets exceed planning requirements and that sustainability commitments are fully realised through to completion.