Two UK shopping centres are first to achieve net zero carbon status

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
Jan 25, 2023

Sustainability hats off to two retail destinations. Quayside MediaCity in Salford and Gloucester Quays have become the first shopping centres to achieve ‘Net Zero Carbon – Operational Energy’, in line with UKGBC’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework.

The two retail destinations have been added to the growing list of property company Peel L&P’s holdings that have achieved net zero carbon status, “demonstrating the company’s commitment to climate resilience by rolling out [related] initiatives across its estate”.

In 2021, many of its site assets were transferred to a 100% renewable electricity tariff linked to wind farms. Within the retail outlets, energy efficiency programmes have included upgrading lighting systems across all spaces.

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Jo Holden, Peel L&P’s Sustainability and ESG Director said: “This is a huge milestone. To have achieved net zero carbon with two significant retail destinations is a UK first and shows just how serious we are at taking action to reduce carbon emissions across our portfolio.”

Holden added: “It is our ambition to build on this and make our properties even more resilient to climate change, which is why we were so proud to have 18 buildings verified at the end of 2022, including two key retail centres.”

Peel L&P’s work to reduce carbon emissions across its assets is part of its five-year sustainability plan which supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In 2022, it unveiled its Climate Positive Plan, a promise to take more greenhouse gases out of the air than it produces by 2030.