A riverside bat colony and recycled vehicle have boosted Stockport shopping centre’s Green bid.
Stockport shopping centre Merseyway has been short-listed for the British Council for Shopping Centres’ Gold Award for Sustainability.
Merseyway impressed industry judges at the British Council for Shopping Centres (BCSC), the leading trade body for the retail property industry, with its strong commitment to sustainability.
In 2010, under new management by commercial property advisers GVA, the 380,000 sq ft centre carried out an audit of its energy use and concluded that big improvements could be made to reduce costs and the impact on the environment.
Under a new plan old boilers were replaced, water consumption reduced and sensor-controlled lighting fitted. Energy costs dropped – overall electricity use was reduced by 26.35%.
But the centre’s Sustainability X factor for judges was also boosted by two unusual features – a colony of bats and a recycling vehicle made almost entirely of recycled material itself.
As Merseyway is built over the River Mersey, supported by 59 columns, it is hometo a roost of Daubenton’s bats (Myotis daubentonii). According to the Environmental Agency, the roost of around 100-150 bats is thought to have settled after past Merseyway tenants sited their air conditioning units on the riverbank, creating a suitable habitat.
Merseyway controls access to the river bank and has been working with the Environment Agency to ensure the roost is protected and continues to thrive.
A new dedicated recycling team provided by sub-contractor ICS Cleaning Ltd operates another of the plan’s results – the addition of an eco-friendly electric van to collect Merseyway’s cardboard waste, replacing a diesel-powered truck. The vehicle itself is, amazingly, comprised of 95% recyclable material and Merseyway was the first shopping centre in the UK to use one.
Overall, as a result of the new measures put in place, Merseyway’s recycling rate has increased from 33% in 2010 to 80% now, whilst waste removal costs have been reduced by over 30%. Additionally, the centre now recycles 96% of all waste produced by its tenants and no waste from Merseyway goes into landfill.
Centre manager Brendan Webb says:
“Merseyway believes that ‘Sustainability Makes Sense’ because it brings both commercial and environmental benefits. Everything we’ve done to help the environment has helped us reduce our service charge year on year since 2010, which has reduced our tenants’ overall costs”.
Jacqueline O’Shea, GVA National Director, says:
“Everyone at Merseyway has worked really hard to reduce the centre’s impact on the environment, and our nomination by the BCSC for its Gold Award in Sustainability is very pleasing. Whether it’s protecting the bat colony or recycling the tenants’ waste, we are proud to be doing our bit for the environment.”
The awards will be announced at a dinner at the Grosvenor Hotel, London on December 4th.
About Merseyway:
Merseyway is a popular shopping centre located in Stockport, one of Greater Manchester’s most successful town centres.
Over 90 stores are located in 380,000 sq ft of retail area, with 835 car parking spaces.
Merseyway is currently investing in activity designed to attract new retailers and continuing its investment in attracting visitors to Stockport.
Established in 1965, and built on giant arches above the river Mersey, Merseyway was one of the first shopping centres to open in the UK. In 1995 the centre underwent an extensive refurbishment and is anchored by Marks and Spencer, Debenhams, BHS and most recently Primark, amongst a wide range of other national multiple retailers including Boots, Specsavers, Topshop, Next etc.
Merseyway is an integral part of the Stockport community, and is dedicated to delivering a combination of local history, character and must-have retail brands to the people of Stockport including both shoppers and businesses.
The Merseyway shopping centre brand promise is “famous brands, fabulously close”. It is a North West leisure destination for families and businesses offering hassle-free access to popular high street brands, local retailers and food and drink eateries catering for all visitors. It’s a facility that locals are proud of and a destination that visitors want to travel to.
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