GLP, a developer of logistics warehouses and distribution parks, has completed  Magnitude 313 at its flagship logistics park in Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, England, the first development to be officially verified as net zero carbon for construction under the  UK Green Building Council framework.

Magnitude 313, which offers 314,123 square feet of distribution and logistics space at Magna Park Milton Keynes, is GLP’s sixth building to go through the Planet Mark accreditation scheme and part of its strategy to further reduce its carbon footprint, the company said in a statement.

GLP had conducted a deep assessment of the development in a bid to maximize the efficiency and sustainability credentials of the materials, resulting in significantly lower levels of embodied carbon.

Key manufacturers had been asked to provide a complete breakdown of their products along with their origin and embodied carbon, and whether the products could be reused or recycled, GLP says. Chetwoods Thrive and Circular Ecology, along with other leaders in the field, were engaged to help the design team and wider supply chain collaborate and reduce as much embodied carbon as possible.

Says Steven Alexander, UK construction director at GLP Europe: "Magnitude is a milestone development for GLP and the logistics industry. It paves the way for further net zero carbon development as we continue our strategy of reducing our carbon footprint, keeping sustainability at the forefront of both the design and construction processes.”  

UK Green Building Council chief executive Julie Hirigoyen notes: “The urgency of the climate crisis means it is vital that we address all carbon impacts from buildings including the upfront embodied carbon from products, materials and construction. In some cases these can account for up to half of a new building’s lifetime carbon impacts - before it has even been occupied. We are delighted to see GLP leading the way by becoming the first developer to achieve net zero carbon for construction using UKGBC’s framework. We hope that this will act as an example to the rest of the industry and inspire others to go even further in reducing the impacts from construction.”