The Perch Eco Business Centre Bicester, developed by Cherwell District Council and supported by European Regional Development Funding, is a vibrant new workplace in Elmsbrook, North West Bicester.
Designed by Architype, it is the first non-domestic building in the UK to achieve the new Passivhaus Plus, a rigourous standard for energy efficiency in a building, developed by the Passivhaus Institute in Germany. It has also been constructed to achieve a BREAAM Excellent rating, the world’s leading sustainability assessment method for buildings. Part of a true zero carbon development at NW Bicester, the Eco Business Centre contributes to the delivery of the sustainable community being developed by A2Dominion providing opportunities for employment alongside the new housing and adding energy to the local centre.
This innovative building, comprising of co-working space and serviced offices over three floors, has been sensitively designed to be distinctive, eco-friendly and sustainable and will accommodate up to 125 people. These high-quality workspaces have been created to attract individuals, start-ups and small businesses, generating new jobs for the local community.
Cllr Pratt, Cherwell’s lead member for Estates and the Economy, said: “Cherwell is fully committed to investing in new projects that have a strong social, economic and environmental impact. This building has been carefully designed to maximise natural resources, provide a healthy environment and be as energy efficient as possible, presenting new opportunities for small businesses.”
“Jan Ponsford, Project Manager Virtus Consult, said: “I am delighted to be delivering such an exciting and ground breaking scheme with a great team. I have a personal passion for energy efficiency, design quality and innovation and this project has all three in spades.”
We are currently procuring an operator for the building and once the company is in place, they will formally take over the operation of the building.