Sustainability and biodiversity

Sustainability

Sustainability is central to the proposals for One St John’s Lane. The project would take a retrofit-led approach by retaining and reusing key elements of the existing building, including the core, basement and superstructure, while significantly improving the building’s environmental performance. Our plans include: 

  • Upgrading the thermal performance of all external walls and roof coverings, which are all around 25 years old and in need of improvement

  • Reusing the existing building core, basement and superstructure

  • Introducing green roofs to improve air quality and boost biodiversity 

  • Sustainable urban drainage and rainwater harvesting

  • Solar panels to generate electricity 

  • Bicycle parking and showers to encourage active travel and support a healthy lifestyle.

The proposed rooftop terrace would provide planting and boost biodiversity

Biodiversity

The proposals would deliver a significant biodiversity net gain, with calculations currently indicating an uplift of more than 30 times in habitat units. This reflects the site’s very low existing biodiversity value, with the proposals introducing new green roofs, shrub planting and urban tree planting where little habitat currently exists.

Our plans would incorporate meaningful green infrastructure and design features, significantly boosting biodiversity and connecting workers with nature and natural elements. This has been shown to have a hugely positive impact in terms of workplace mental health.

In terms of planting, a mix of native species and species with a known benefit to wildlife would be provided. Where ornamental non-native species are incorporated, plants and flowers from the Royal Horticultural Society’s ‘Plants for Pollinators’ list would be used. These measures would attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators to the site. 

On the rooftop terrace, birdboxes and bug hotels would be installed, creating new habitats for local wildlife to flourish. 

Our ambition is for the revamped building to achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’, and to explore a path to ‘Outstanding’. BREEAM, which stands for Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method, is the world’s leading, science-led assessment framework for measuring the sustainability of buildings.