J Tomlinson wins energy efficiency award for Leicestershire business park

L to R: Darroch Baker – Special Projects Director, J Tomlinson; Ashton Mitchell – Marketing Manager, J Tomlinson; Andrea Hopkins – Principal Valuer – Estates, Leicestershire County Council; Jamie Forman – Operation Real Estate Manager – Strategic Property Services, Leicestershire County Council

Contractor J Tomlinson is on cloud nine after Airfield Business Park in Leicestershire scooped the title of Large Scale Project of the Year at the East Midlands Energy Efficiency Awards.

The Leicestershire County Council owned business park outside Market Harborough won the award which ‘recognises the efforts of all those involved locally in delivering a successful large scale energy saving project, while maintaining excellent customer service that demonstrates a high standard of quality workmanship throughout the project.’

As part of the project, J Tomlinson commissioned and installed 692 solar panels on the high-spec steel frame industrial units ranging from 1,570 to 33,360 sq ft in size.

Passive infrared sensor (PIR) LED motion lighting was installed across each unit, as well as energy-efficient, thermostat-controlled electric heaters.

It is estimated that the energy-saving measures implemented within the scheme will save 79 tonnes of CO2 emissions in year one – the equivalent of a car travelling 238,279 miles.

In addition, by keeping soil on site and redistributing it from higher to lower areas, the project saved more than 170 HGV movements. As well as reducing the project’s carbon footprint, this approach will save the council money on the future phases of development at Airfield Business Park.

The measures were taken in support of Leicestershire County Council’s ongoing commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030.

Chief executive of Nottingham-based J Tomlinson, Mark Davis, said: “This is fantastic news for us and our client, although it’s the environment that’s been the true winner.

“J Tomlinson prides itself on working in partnership with our clients – helping our clients reduce their energy bills, minimise their carbon footprint and meet sustainability targets – and we were delighted to have partnered with Leicestershire County Council to create Airfield Business Park. The scheme included a range of energy-saving measures and we’re so pleased that this has been recognised with a win in the East Midlands Energy Efficiency Awards, helping to highlight the part that the construction sector can play in reducing our environmental impact.”

This success for J Tomlinson follows on from the company winning two regional and one national Energy Efficiency Awards last year, including the Renewable Heat Project of the Year Award at the National Energy Efficiency Awards 2019, alongside client Bromford Housing, supplier Vaillant and funding provider, Area Eco. The ground source heat pump installation scheme is helping Bromford residents living in a sheltered scheme in Solihull save up to 40% on their heating bills.

Airfield Business Park, which is expected to create more than 200 jobs in the local area, was handed over to Leicestershire County Council by J Tomlinson at the end of 2019, with four of the 12 units already let and another four reserved by prospective tenants. The scheme was completed within budget, aided by value engineering during tender stage.

Councillor Byron Rhodes, Leicestershire County Council’s cabinet member for finance and resources, said: “I’m delighted that our work on Airfield Business Park has been recognised for what we are trying to achieve as a council.

“We take our commitments to reduce carbon very seriously and this development is just one of the initiatives we’re exploring.

“Investing in property also means we can generate income to plough back into services, helping to meet ever-increasing demands.”

The East Midlands Energy Efficiency Awards ceremony took place on Thursday 12th March at the Radisson Blu Hotel at East Midlands Airport.

J Tomlinson, which has its headquarters at Beeston near Nottingham and regional offices in Canwell in the West Midlands, Wakefield in Yorkshire, Newton-le-Willows in Merseyside, and Billingham, near Middlesbrough, sponsored the Regional Housing Association of the Year award at the East Midlands Energy Efficiency Awards 2020. The award, which rewards an ‘exceptional Housing Association or Landlord that has shown a true commitment energy efficiency within their region’, was won by emh homes.

J Tomlinson, which provides a range of integrated building solutions including repairs and maintenance, renewable energy, facilities management, construction, refurbishment, and engineering services, operates primarily across the East Midlands, West Midlands, Yorkshire, North East and North West England, and works across all major sectors, including social housing, healthcare, senior living, commercial, industrial, retail, education and student accommodation.

Its expertise in energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions stretches from auditing and consultancy and design, through to installation and maintenance. The company’s schemes include air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, LED lighting and solar PV.