McBains Cooper appointed on £70m scheme

Multi-disciplinary property and construction consultancy McBains Cooper is providing project management, cost management and mechanical and electrical engineering on the £70m Oakmayne Plaza scheme. As part of the Elephant & Castle regeneration masterplan, the project aims to be one of the most sustainable of its kind.

Sustainability expert at McBains Cooper Anthony Coumidis, said: “The aim is to use less energy, use renewable energy and to supply the energy efficiently.”

Oakmayne Properties has been granted planning permission for the mixed-use scheme that will feature three contrasting towers comprising 216 residential private homes, a 214 bedroom hotel, a five-screen arts cinema, offices, restaurants and retail units.

To obtain the best possible sustainable solution McBains Cooper is proposing a district heating/cooling system to link all the buildings together, combined heat and power (CHP) to serve the development and a geothermal heat pump system.

Coumidis added: “The surplus heat from the CHP plant can be utilised to top up the geothermal loop and to provide domestic hot water services. Heat pumps offer the lowest carbon emission method of heating any building.”

The consultant is also considering the use of wind turbines, photovoltaic cells and low energy construction components.

PKS is the architect. No contractor has yet been appointed.

Work on site is scheduled to start early next year and completion is planned for 2009.