Success!
72 retailers connected in two weeks.

Getting one of the largest schemes to be delivered in Oxford in more than 20 years through planning required a collaborative and considered effort from all involved. Landsec’s ambitious whole-life carbon target was pioneering – committing to reduce the amount of carbon produced from both the centre’s construction and from its first 30 years in operation. If we could help to realise this aim, it would result in the lowest carbon retail-led scheme in the country.

Our Sustainability team produced a blueprint sustainable strategy to harness the many social and environmental targets, and craft a number of key objectives that all parties agreed to. Our Sustainability Implementation Plan (SIP) supported the scheme through some incredibly tough planning approvals, along with leading a strategic and committed approach to sustainability from concept right through to successful completion. Landsec is even using the initiative on its future projects.

The Westgate wow-factor (for us engineers at least!) was the delivery of a super-efficient energy loop, which has one of the largest deployments of centralised air source heating of its kind in the UK. It enables both energy sharing and effective use of an electricity grid, which means Westgate can continually reduce its carbon impact for the foreseeable future… and lowers operating costs for all the retailers.

Since opening, visitors and residents alike have flocked to Westgate. Thanks to the centralised energy loop systems, the roof area didn’t need a localised plant. The saved space was instead used to provide a restaurant area, with panoramic views across the city. The result is more than just a spectacular new space in which to meet, eat, and shop, but also a significant boost to the local economy, with approximately 3,500 jobs created. It’s well-deserving of its description as ‘game-changing’, providing the city centre with a long-term sustainable retail heart.