news from the BRE Group
published: 25/6/2008
This press release is over six months old and the details may have been superseded. Please contact the Press Office for the latest information.
BRE Scotland Innovation Park announced
BRE Scotland is putting a call out to the next generation of Scottish innovators to get involved in a major new development that aims to change the face of the Scottish Construction.
The BRE Scotland Innovation Park, to be located on the site of the Ravenscraig Regeneration development on the edge of Glasgow, aims to showcase the future of Scottish housing in the first phase, with non-domestic properties to follow later. This will be achieved by demonstrating full scale buildings that include future techniques, technologies and processes that will drive a step change in the industry. It is expected to channel over £2 million of investment.Director of BRE Scotland, Rufus Logan says ‘From James Watt to John Logie Baird, Scotland has for centuries been synonymous with innovation. We want to tap into this rich history and challenge companies working within the sector to develop new solutions to the defining issues of our time - the need for radical CO2 reduction and climate change mitigation. We also want to highlight the innovative work already going on in Scottish construction.'
Inspired by the BRE Innovation Park in Watford - which pioneered carbon zero housing, not only in the UK, but also in the world - the goal is that the Innovation Park at Ravenscraig will have a similar impact in Scotland.
Construction industry leaders have been asked to put forward technologies for use in the first four of the demonstration homes to be built at the BRE Scotland Innovation Park. An ‘expressions of interest' event has been scheduled for June 26 to help enable full industry involvement. Scottish companies and organisations are being challenged to submit solutions to issues including:
- low carbon technologies
- affordability
- climate proofing
- internet enabled technology
- refurbishment/retrofit
- lifetime homes
- R&D testing of future products/process
- skills training.
Once companies and organisations have been selected to participate, construction of the BRE Scotland Innovation Park will start next year with the first phase being completed during 2010.
The new Innovation Park will be built at Ravenscraig, one of the most ambitious regeneration projects ever seen in Scotland and among the largest in Europe. It will be created by BRE Scotland - which provides consultancy, research and testing services to the construction industry and government - in partnership with Ravenscraig Ltd, the company leading the regeneration of Ravenscraig.
‘The aims of BRE Scotland are very similar to our own,' says Jim Fitzsimons, Director of Ravenscraig Ltd, ‘and it is a tremendous endorsement of our ambitions for this development that they have chosen Ravenscraig as the location for their Scottish Innovation Park. ‘We have already insisted that the houses to be built at Ravenscraig must adhere to some of the strictest environmental guidelines in the country, and we look forward to those being created on the Innovation Park spotlighting the path the construction industry will follow in the years to come.'
Anyone wanting more information on the 26th June event please follow this link , https://www.bre.co.uk/filelibrary/Scotland/BRE_Scotland_Innovation_Park.pdf.
Or if you are unable to attend please contact Laura Birrell on 01355 576200.
All press enquiries to Linda McKeown, BRE , 01923 664569, email mckeownl@bre.co.uk
Notes for editors
Ravenscraig
Once completed Ravenscraig will be home to over 10,000 people, and is expected to create 12,000 jobs and attract in excess of £1.2 billion of private sector investment over the next 15 to 20 years.
Work is already well under way on the £200 million first phase of the redevelopment of the 1,100 acre site, with a £30 million regional sports facility, a £70 million campus for Motherwell College and 850 new houses now under construction. Plans have also just been unveiled for the £600 million second phase of the development, which will create a new town centre for Ravenscraig. http://www.ravenscraig.co.uk/
BRE Scotland
Based at East Kilbride in Glasgow since 1949, BRE Scotland provides consultancy, research and testing services related to a range of important issues in the built environment. BRE Scotland promotes, within Scotland, the full range of services of the BRE Trust companies, BRE and BRE Global - world leading research, consultancy, training, testing and certification organisations delivering sustainability and innovation across the built environment and beyond. www.bre.co.uk/scotland
BRE Innovation Park
The BRE Innovation Park is a showcase of the very latest in innovative methods of construction, and in cutting edge but practical and affordable sustainability.
The Park, at the centre of BRE's Watford site, features a number of demonstration properties showcasing innovative methods of construction, near zero-carbon homes, and over 200 innovative and emerging technologies. Since being officially opened in June 2005 by the then Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, the Park has attracted over 20,000 visitors as well as VIP guests including HRH Prince of Wales, Government Ministers and senior civil servants. www.bre.co.uk/innovationpark
Follow BRE Group online:
