Manchester 6-storey mass timber frame office approved

Developer Bruntwood has secured planning for its ground-breaking £31m mass timber frame office in south Manchester.

Known as The Ev0 Building, the six-storey structure will be constructed with timber beams and columns helping to deliver the country’s lowest carbon new build workspace.

Based at Didsbury Technology Park in South Manchester, the Ev0 will be fully electric, with up to 94% of its energy requirement generated from photovoltaics located on the building’s roof and car park.

Works are targeted to start on site in autumn 2023 and complete in late 2024.

The building will meet LETI 2020 design targets for upfront carbon, RIBA 2025 targets for whole life carbon and the UK Green Building Council’s Paris Proof operational energy use targets, making Ev0 net zero in both construction and ongoing operation.

As part of Ev0’s energy efficiency plans, the building’s ground-breaking design estimates running costs at 58% lower than a traditional new build.

The development has employed parametric design principles to reduce the overall carbon footprint of the building, with the facade designed to minimise solar gain and overheating on the south and westerly elevations, and maximise solar gain on the north and east elevations.

Ev0 will provide 82,549 sq ft of workspace over six storeys and sit between Sir William Siemens House, Spire Hospital and Bruntwood Works’ Ohm Building at Didsbury Technology Park in Greater Manchester.

Bruntwood sees Ev0 as a landmark development for Manchester, supporting the city in its 2038 target for carbon neutrality and helping to cement the city’s reputation as a leader in sustainable development.

Written by Aaron Morby - Construction Enquirer.