Our Sustainable Future case study: Eden, Salford Central

The sustainable workplace of the future

Eden is groundbreaking. Completed in 2024, we set out to deliver one of the most sustainable workplaces in the UK. We achieved it.

Delivered by ECF – our partnership with Legal & General and Homes England – Eden is a workspace which sits within the wider Salford Central Masterplan, a £1 billion regeneration being delivered in partnership with Salford City Council.

Our aim was to create a Net Zero Carbon in operation office, achieving some of the most ambitious sustainability accreditations in the world, on what was a former surface car park.

The 12-storey, 115,000 sq ft office has been commended by the UK Green Building Council and NABERS, which has awarded Eden a 5.5 NABERS ‘Design for Performance’ Target Rating, out of a maximum of 6.

During construction, we reduced embodied carbon emissions. Our embodied emissions were measured at 615kgCO2e/m2 GIA. This compares to 1,200kg for a standard office building. It was a significant reduction.

We used recycled materials, including recycled steel, upholstery, and recycled glass worktops in the on-site café. We also used reclaimed materials including a salvaged gym floor which came from a sports hall at the University of Central Lancashire.

The building’s design, including the position of windows, had been carefully considered to maximise efficiency and make best use of sunlight and daylight while reducing solar gains.

We used leading-edge technology for airtightness, insulation, heating, and cooling. By incorporating these innovative construction methods and technologies, the life-cycle cost of Eden is expected to be 60% less than a typical Grade A office. That not only reduces the energy use intensity of the building but makes it cheaper and more sustainable to run and operate.

Whilst the building’s technology and construction operate unseen, Eden’s external appearance defines its sustainable credentials. Eden harnesses nature to create an urban and biodiverse façade that contains 350,000 plants and 32 different species. It represents a biodiversity net gain of 2,000%.

Many of the plants which have been chosen were selected to enhance the local environment. More woody species help absorb gas such as Nitric Oxide and Carbon, for example.

At circa 3,300 sq m it’s Europe’s largest living wall, an engineering marvel and a commitment to long-term stewardship. It helps purify the air, lower urban temperatures, and attract birds, bees, and insects which enhances the local environment and improves the experience of Salford for communities.

Paul Dennett, Mayor of Salford:

Now home to some of the UK’s biggest companies, including law firms TLT and accountancy firm BDO, Eden has become a hub of commerce and industry.

The living wall can be seen and experienced from inside the offices, as it is possible to catch a glimpse of some of the leafier plants gracefully framing the windows, which gives those working in Eden an immediate connection to nature. It’s all part of the WELL Building Standard principles, which aims to improve human health and wellbeing through high quality design. By investing in modern workplaces this helps to retain and attract talent.

We encourage active commutes with storage for 156 bikes, along with showers, lockers, and drying rooms. Enhanced fresh air rates and natural lighting all contribute to a more productive and healthier workplace.

Other features include a wellness and yoga studio, treatment room, contemplation space, Spice and Grind café and panoramic roof terrace. These are the ideal spaces to take a break and give people the opportunity to interact and connect with each other.

All this means that Eden is not only a sustainable building in its design and construction but contributes to the health and wellbeing of those who work there every day. It acts as a green beacon for sustainability in the heart of Salford and sits proudly as a real asset for the city, attracting people, investors, and businesses.

Home to law firm TLT

One business which calls Eden home is law firm TLT, which relocated its Manchester operation to Eden in August 2024.

The move was inspired by the building’s environmental credentials – which align with TLT’s commitment to becoming a more sustainable business – and Eden’s first-class people-oriented facilities.

Switching to Eden has had a huge impact on TLT’s Manchester team with James Chadwick, partner and head of location for TLT in Manchester, commenting:

Eden’s facilities and features have been designed around the needs and requirements of people, and colleagues have applauded how small things such as cycle stores, showers and changing rooms have boosted wellbeing by allowing people to consider active travel to the office rather than driving.

James’ comments highlight how a positive working environment – and the amenities which dovetail with it – can have a galvanising effect on a business, which was one of the key outcomes we hoped to achieve from Eden’s very inception.