TLT’s Manchester team moves into award-winning sustainability building

Law firm TLT has moved into the top two floors at the pioneering Eden, Salford – hailed as one of the UK’s most sustainable office buildings, the first new building in the country to achieve a record-breaking NABERS sustainability rating and winner of the Building of the Year at the Unlock Net Zero Awards.

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.

The move to Eden will bring TLT one step closer to achieving its net-zero targets, play a central part in supporting the firm’s people-first culture and flexible working approach – TLT World – whilst also advancing the firm’s growth in the Northwest. Since its launch, TLT World has helped contribute to TLT’s great success in improving diversity in senior roles, a commitment which was recently evidenced with the introduction of a new target to achieve 50% female representation in partner roles by 2029 after having achieved 33% female representation at partner level in summer 2023.

The new office is the second of the firm’s seven UK offices – closely following TLT’s move to Cadworks in Glasgow, one of the most sustainable and innovative buildings in Scotland – designed from scratch to support agile working, with facilities and tech enabling employees to mix remote working with time in the office. The office, designed by office design and fit-out company Interaction, places employee wellness and space to collaborate onsite with clients at the centre of its plans.

Boasting an array of sustainable features, notably having the biggest living façade in Europe – and the second largest in the world – the new office aligns perfectly with the firm’s plans to reduce carbon emissions. Other sustainability features include 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. As well as using sustainable materials where possible, the building also has the capability to run on 100% renewable electricity.

The news follows a decade of success for the team in Manchester, during which the firm saw its headcount grow to over 200 employees, support some of the most prominent businesses in the Northwest and achieve record financial success. TLT’s achievements in Manchester culminated in winning 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.

John Wood, managing partner at TLT commented: “The move to Eden is part of a wider year of achievements for TLT. The firm has continued to experience significant growth in the last twelve months – with financial success, expanding our national footprint with the opening of our Birmingham office and increasing our offering across all our sectors. However, our growth has not come at the expense of our ESG strategy. The move to Eden is a central part of our sustainable growth, incorporating our progressive vision to reduce our environmental impact and create a positive people-first culture, whilst also supporting our national growth trajectory – of which Manchester has been a key part of in the last decade.”

James Chadwick, head of location in Manchester said: “Eden has been the talk of the business community in Manchester this last year and we are incredibly proud to call the building our new home. Designed with communities and businesses who care about reducing their environmental impact at its heart, Eden perfectly reflects our values and will play a central part in ensuring we continue delivering excellence for clients.

“As a firm, we are committed to driving sustainable change and to creating a people-first culture. Eden’s design, its sustainability features and the part it is playing in the regeneration of Salford will support our ambitions to have a positive impact on our people, as well as the communities in which we operate. A year on from celebrating our ten-year anniversary in Manchester, I’m delighted we can acknowledge our growth and achievements by moving into this award-winning building.”

Ella Woodward, development manager at Muse, added: “Welcoming TLT into Eden signifies a special moment in the building’s journey, and it’s exciting to see the first occupier move in. It’s also incredibly rewarding to see our vision – and the top two floors – come to life.

“With a laser focus on sustainability, an environment which helps foster a strong workplace culture, and an emphasis on the promotion of wellness and wellbeing, everything Eden represents aligns perfectly with TLT’s values and ethos. We look forward to seeing TLT continue its trajectory of growth and expansion from the heart of New Bailey’s thriving business community.”