Two major shopping centres secure net zero status

Two retail destinations, Quayside MediaCity in Salford and Gloucester Quays, have become the first shopping centres in the UK to achieve net zero carbon status in line with UK Green Building Council’s (UKGBC) framework.

The Peel L&P properties were verified against the UKGBC’s net zero carbon framework based on their operational carbon emissions, action taken to reduce those emissions and their renewable energy use. 

Quayside MediaCity and Gloucester Quays are the “first assets of their kind” in Peel L&P’s ownership to achieve this status.

In 2021, many of Peel L&P’s assets were transferred to a 100% renewable electricity tariff linked to named wind farms, which “considerably” reduced carbon emissions across the property portfolio. 

Within the retail outlets, energy efficiency programmes have included upgrading lighting systems across all spaces including public areas, food courts, back office and advertising signage.

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.

“Net zero carbon status has really driven our energy team and everyone around the business to seek out ways of using less energy and more renewable sources. 

“The impact on our carbon emissions has been far-reaching and the effort of our people shouldn’t be under-estimated. But 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 eighteen buildings verified at the end of 2022, including two key retail centres.”

Yetunde Abdul, head of Climate Action at UKGBC added: “The challenge of decarbonising the UK’s built environment is a complex one, but Peel L&P’s long-term commitment to aligning their built assets to UKGBC’s net zero carbon buildings framework demonstrates their ambition to take this challenge head-on. 

“Given that buildings are directly responsible for around a quarter of the UK’s carbon footprint, businesses across the sector must work together to fundamentally change the way we construct, operate and de-construct our buildings, and ultimately drive a more sustainable built environment.”