Land Registry complex achieves ‘excellent’ BREEAM rating

Seaton Court, the new buildings of Land Registry Information Systems in Plymouth, is one of the few projects in the UK to achieve a maximum score on the environmental-performance index of BREEAM. Designed by TPS, the design and project-management division of Carillion Business Services, Seaton Court provides office accommodation and other facilities for up to 500 Land Registry staff. The complex consists of a 3-storey main office building around an open courtyard and linked to other buildings housing the reception and restaurant. The site also includes a crèche with outdoor play areas. There are parking facilities for bicycles, motor-cycles and 300 cars. Key elements that scored well with BREEAM were considerations of health and well-being for staff, water-conservation elements, pollution avoidance in the selection of materials, low-emission heating and ecology. Particular attention was paid to increasing diversity through landscape design. TPS project director Phil Edwards says, ‘The original brief conceived by Land Registry included significant environment considerations within the project, including an “excellent” rating under the BREEAM assessment method — which it was designed to achieve from the outset.’ TPS provided an integrated service to Land Registry, including full project management, design and site services, BREEAM assessors, quantity surveying, building control and planning supervisor services.