West Coast Network Services, an innovative provider of
specialist engineering services, has moved into a new purpose-built
headquarters in Mold, Flintshire. The new headquarters has been
designed with the environment very much front of mind, using a
number of sustainable methods and materials.
West Coast Network Services, part of the West Coast Energy Group
of companies, had outgrown its current rented office space at Waen
Farm in Mold, and the management was keen to move into their own
premises as an investment in the future of the company. The new,
850m2 timber clad office has been accredited under the BRE
Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) as 'excellent', and
includes a glue laminated timber (glulam) frame. All the timber
used in the build and furniture is Forestry Stewardship
Council (FSC) certified and sourced from local suppliers.
The building's 'green' roof features a covering of sedum plants
to further benefit the environment and boost insulation. The
low-impact environmental build also made maximal use of local
suppliers, as well as available natural resources, to reduce power
usage including sun pipes for natural lighting, natural ventilation
and a sustainable drainage system. Eighty per cent of the fabric of
the building is made from A-rated energy performance materials.
Electrical lighting is operated by movement sensor.
In addition to the move, West Coast Network Services has
launched a redesigned corporate identity. The company's branding
and logos have been updated to be cleaner, more modern and
reflective of the organisation's sustainable ethos. A newly
designed website will also be launching soon.
The newly completed building was visited and toured by local MP
David Hanson, who commented: "I am always heartened during these
difficult economic times to see a Flintshire business thriving. In
this case this is combined with an inspirational environmental
construction project. I am delighted to have toured the new
headquarters to see how a successful local business has realised
ambitious plans for expansion. West Coast Network Services' new
headquarters is a wonderful example of a truly environmental build,
from the insulated foundations to the sedum roof."
Karl Lee, West Coast Network Services Managing Director
comments: "We are very proud of our new headquarters, which is a
great example of modern construction from sustainably-sourced
materials: from under-floor heating to cyclist facilities to
including showers with low water consumption sanitary fittings. It
is a vast improvement on our previous surroundings and will bring
our employees a more attractive, modern and airy working
environment. What's more, all staff members will now be working in
the same building - previously they had been spread across three
sites."
The new office is set within landscaping of locally sourced
trees and wild flowers, improving the surrounding habitat's
biodiversity. Rain water will be conserved using storage butts and
porous tarmac paves the car park. An application for a wind turbine
is currently underway, to enable self-sufficiency and promote the
use of renewable energy locally.
West Coast Network Services is a successful and innovative
provider of specialist engineering services to the electrical,
utility and infrastructure sectors. It specialises in
Arboricultural and Vegetation management work, together with
technical support for the electrical supply industry. This work
varies in scope and size from soft landscaping, to maintenance work
on overhead lines, on contracts worth £50,000 to multi-million
pound contracts per annum. It is part of the West Coast Energy
Group of companies that specialise in renewable energy,
environmental consultancy and vegetation management.
