Wolseley unveils plans for £2.9m sustainable building centre

Distributor of construction materials Wolseley UK has unveiled plans to develop a national showcase for sustainable building products and construction methods.

The £2.9m Sustainable Building Centre (SBC), located next to company headquarters in Leamington Spa, is the first of its kind. It intends to be a living, breathing and interactive centre for all involved in construction, from specifiers through to builders.

The firm’s managing director, Adrian Barden, said: “Buildings account for 50% of the UK's CO2 emissions and the construction industry must contribute to a more sustainable future."

The two-storey, 6,800 sq ft building will allow construction firms to view and experience the latest technologies and the widest range of sustainable, energy-efficient and recycled building products. For the first time it will bring together all the products that are available now, or imminently, across all of Wolseley's brands nationwide.

Barden added: "This major initiative will provide a new focus for our role in the promotion of sustainable design and construction. It will also provide a vehicle for impartial advice, which research indicates our customers need, and ultimately foster an acceptance of sustainable products and approaches at every level.”

SBC is expected to attract great interest from larger public sector clients, as well as civil engineering and house building companies engaged in major building programmes. Consideration is also being given to make the centre’s services available to smaller firms.

There will be specially trained staff on site. The building will also have a first-class training and presentation theatre and café facilities. These will be used for events, launches and demonstrations, to engage with a range of people from all sectors of the construction industry.

Detailed planning consent has already been secured and work is to start on site in October. Completion is expected by summer 2007.