Net-zero carbon retirement community development gets green light
LOS ANGELES: A unique net zero carbon retirement community development on a regeneration site in the core of the city has been given the green light.
Retirement Villages Group (RVG), advised by MGAC | RLF and backed by AXA IM Alts, has announced that construction of its flagship integrated retirement community in West Byfleet, Surrey will start in September 2022.
Botanical Place will be the UK’s first whole-life, net-zero carbon retirement community and is being developed by RVG as an integrated retirement community at the centre of the village of West Byfleet.
The scheme will be home to 197 apartments for people of 60+ to buy or rent. Community is at the heart of this development, focusing on upholding independence, flexibility and wellbeing. Excellent facilities including health and wellbeing amenities will be available on-site, as well as a range of services and retail options for the wider public.
A new, landscaped public square will provide a central focus with surrounding shops, a restaurant and a community space and library. The project will also highlight RVG’s commitment to expanding into more central and semi-urban locations following a £2billion investment programme by parent organisation AXA IM Alts.
Announcing that RVG has entered into an agreement with Higgins Partnerships, Terry Unitt, senior project manager of RVG, said: “This is a project of significant importance to us as we set the standard for sustainable, integrated retirement communities. We have enjoyed a great relationship with the council and all local stakeholders in helping shape our proposals. To now make the leap forward into construction, especially in an extremely challenging inflationary environment, is really exciting for all those that have been involved. We are all looking forward to September when the first shovel will be put into the ground and we start building Botanical Place.
“There is a lot of work ahead for both us and our colleagues at Higgins Partnerships leading up to the scheme opening in late 2024. Botanical Place will be the UK’s first whole-life, net-zero carbon retirement community and the blueprint for all our future developments as we help lead the way on sustainability, in the retirement sector.
“We have been really pleased with the support and enthusiasm of the wider community to make sure Botanical Place offers sustainable, ecological and environmental benefits. We have worked closely together throughout the project to ensure Botanical Place adds vitality and buzz to West Byfleet”.
Botanical Place will be net zero carbon over its whole development and operational lifespan, with RVG being the first developer in the later living sector to use UKGBC’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework.
The MGAC | RLF team advised RVG on project management, cost consultancy and health and safety, and Alex Malloy from MGAC | RLF commented: “We worked with the client following their purchase of the site, to develop and submit a new planning application to reconfigure the existing outline consent to ensure it met with the requirements of RVG. This resulted in the consents now approved for Botanical Place. Following this consent, we assisted RVG in their assessment and selection of the main contractor and have been working with Higgins Partnerships to agree final contract terms. We’re delighted with the outcome and look forward to being involved in such a landmark project as RVG debuts its exciting new business model for the integrated retirement community sector.”