Michael Spriggs

Where does UK Land Estates operate?

UKLE is a North-east based property investor and developer that owns over 25 of the region’s largest business estates, including Team Valley and Teesside Industrial Estate. We also have over 2000 properties in the region, from Ashington in the north to Middlesbrough in the south, split approximately 70:30 between industrial/factory space and offices and retail/leisure. We don’t operate in the residential market.

What is a typical scheme for UK Land Estates?

We don’t have a typical scheme, but we specialise in regenerating and developing brownfield sites, where we reuse and recycle as much material as possible. We also specialise in large mixed-use schemes like Queens Park, the redevelopment of the former Ingersoll-Rand works: 21,000 m2 of industrial and office space redeveloped from tired, empty space into modern, contemporary office and industrial accommodation. We’re also involved in the Waterfront development at Newburn Riverside, an 88-hectare site reclaimed by the Regional Development Agency One North East, in a £46m clean-up. It’s the first phase of development, including environmentally efficient and sustainable office and industrial accommodation.

How do you measure environmental performance?

We build as economically as we can for obvious reasons, but we do spend time and energy with architects when designing new developments to ensure that we achieve as high a BREEAM rating as possible. After all, if a building has an environmental award then it is a benefit to us in letting the building and our tenants. In all new office developments, UKLE is committed to trying to achieve BREEAM ‘excellent’ ratings. Environmentally efficient and sustainable buildings are better for everyone’s future as they reduce the amount of energy used in both heating and cooling, and cost less for tenants to run. It’s not as easy to achieve BREEAM ‘excellent’ ratings on industrial developments.

How does incorporating green features benefit developers?

Sustainability is an integral part of our core business objectives, which enables us to maintain a unique position in the marketplace. Many of our buildings have won awards and will obviously save our tenants money, which is always a good incentive for them. However, it is not just a building’s green features that attract tenants; we find that they value contemporary design, new premises and also consider the location.

What type of green features can a tenant expect to find on one of your developments?

Riverside House (at Newburn Riverside) incorporates insulation that does not use harmful CFC and HCFC gases during the manufacturing process, thus minimising its impact on the ozone layer. Timber was sourced from suppliers who maintain a forestry stewardship policy which, by ensuring that felled trees are replaced, helps to prevent deforestation. A dedicated refuse store has been provided to allow segregation of waste materials for recycling purposes and rainwater is collected, filtered and then re-used for flushing toilets and external irrigation. Building occupants are given direct control over their office spaces through windows that open and lighting controls, while views outside ensure a pleasant working environment.

Many of your schemes feature significant landscaping to encourage the local flora and fauna. Why?

UKLE works hard at creating the right kind of atmosphere and environment at our new developments, as we believe that a workplace should be pleasing for both clients and staff. The more successful companies of the future will be those that provide the kind of surroundings in which people are stimulated to work together to their maximum potential.

How do you decide which green features are economical?

Our benchmark is cost versus value.

Do buildings with sustainable energy credentials command a premium rent?

Yes. More importantly, they appear to be particularly attractive to the public sector.

Are particular tenants attracted to a green building?

It’s difficult to say. Newburn Riverside has been filled by 80% public sector bodies, but this may be because the Regional Development Agency’s headquarters is also located there.