TLT agrees move to ground-breaking sustainable office space in Manchester

TLT has signed a major deal with national development partnership, The English Cities Fund (ECF), to take the top two floors (20,000 sq ft) at Eden, Salford – designed to be one of the UK’s most sustainable office buildings – for its new Manchester home.

The announcement follows TLT’s recent move to Cadworks in Glasgow last year, the firm’s first concept office in one of the most sustainable and innovative buildings in Scotland. As well as supporting TLT’s net zero targets, both office moves play a central part in supporting the firm’s fully flexible working approach, TLT World.

TLT won Law Firm of the Year at the Manchester Legal Awards 2022 in recognition of its outstanding commitment to delivering excellence for clients and completing some of the most significant deals in the UK. It was also singled out for its dedication to creating a people-first culture and its significant growth in Manchester. The move to Eden reflects the firm’s commitment to investing in the region.

Eden’s pioneering, holistic approach to sustainability sets it apart. Developed by ECF – a strategic joint venture between nationwide placemaker, Muse, Legal & General and Homes England – Eden is a £36 million, 115,000 sq ft, 12-storey office building at New Bailey in Salford, one of the region’s most sought-after commercial neighbourhoods.

Once complete, Eden will have the capability to run on 100% renewable electricity and has been designed using the UK Green Building Council’s 2035 – 2050 standards. Designed by Make Architects, Eden aims to be the standard-bearer in environmentally-conscious development and occupier wellbeing.

Eden will feature the latest in smart tech solutions to improve resource efficiency, with upgraded insulation, enhanced ventilation to improve the flow of fresh, clean air, along with an air source heat pump to provide low-carbon heating, hot water, and cooling.

Sustainable materials have been used throughout Eden where possible resulting in Eden reducing its upfront embodied carbon intensity down to a current 660CO2/m2, compared with over 1100kgCO2/m2 for a typical development of this type.

Eden will also feature the biggest living façade in Europe – and the second largest in the world. This 43,000 sq ft façade has been designed to remove air pollutants including carbon, reduce urban temperatures offering thermal benefits to occupiers, and delivering a 174% net gain in the biodiversity of the area, while at the same time providing high-quality green spaces. The façade also has a range of health benefits, with Eden designed to enhance occupier health, wellbeing, productivity and will embrace the WELL Building Standard principles.

Graeme Orchison, partner and location head for TLT in Manchester said: “This exciting move is part of TLT’s ongoing commitment to investing in Manchester which has played a key part in the firm’s growth trajectory over the last ten years. It also represents our commitment to sustainability and a people-first culture where employees have the space and support to produce their best work. Our values are very much reflected in Eden’s ground-breaking approach that will lead the way for the future workplaces that are both better for our people and the planet.”

Phil Mayall, director at ECF, commented: “Eden has been designed for communities and companies that place sustainability at their hearts. TLT’s decision to relocate to Eden reflects its values, as well as Salford’s track record in innovation and creativity and is a ringing endorsement of our collective approach.”

“As a business, we’re committed to building a brighter and kinder future for the next generation, and we can’t wait to welcome TLT to Eden when it completes. This place-changing building has been designed to push the envelope in terms of sustainable regeneration and highlight what can be achieved when like-minded partners work together to deliver something truly special for the benefit of everyone.”

Eden is committed to having its operational performance independently verified by NABERS UK and is currently the only registered project in the UK targeting to reach a Design in Performance rating of 5.5 stars (out of a possible six). NABERS UK is a simple reliable system for rating the energy efficiency of buildings. Eden is also one of a small number of LETI pioneer projects and is on target to achieve a BREEAM Outstanding rating.

Retained letting agents on the building are JLL, Cushman and Wakefield and OBI.  Chris Mulcahy at JLL acted on behalf of TLT in the acquisition.