iCON is a sustainability first

The iCon building in Daventry will be the first in the UK to be constructed using new sustainability guidance introduced earlier this year by the Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) for its contracts.

Construction on the GBP7 million 4,000m2 building, due to start in summer, will be under a JCT design and build contract, incorporating new sustainability clauses.

The new building will be a leading example of energy efficiency and sustainable design in its own right, but coupled with the use of the sustainability provisions, it will also be a demonstration of best practice in sustainable construction.

Following the sustainability theme, the building will be a national centre for sustainable construction and innovative green technologies, becoming the permanent base for East Midland Development Agency's (emda) new Sustainable Construction innovation Network (iNet), and will offer business incubator units for companies establishing themselves in this emerging sector.

The iCon will also offer first-class conference and community facilities for Daventry and the region.

The new JCT guidance assisted the client, ICON (EM), to introduce sustainability requirements from the outset.

These broadly included:.

1] Requiring the contractor to use materials and methods of working which improve environmental performance and sustainability: reductions in waste.

- reductions in energy consumption.

- reductions in mains water consumption.

- reductions in CO2 emissions.

- reductions in materials from non-renewable sources.

- reductions in commercial vehicle movements.

- maintenance or optimisation of biodiversity.

- maintenance or optimisation of ecologically valuable habitat(s).

improvements in whole life performance of the Works, and the completed development.

2] In addition, requiring the contractor not to use or approve products and materials identified as being potentially hazardous or not conforming to various publications from the British Council for Offices, British property Federation, relevant British or European standards or codes of practice, or the Building Research Establishment.

3] There is also an explicit term requiring the contractor to ensure the building achieved an Excellent BREEAM rating.

This in itself places significant sustainability requirements upon the contractor.

JCT published the sustainability guidance earlier this year, and is subsequently including sustainability provisions within all its contracts from this month (May).

The decision by JCT to tackle sustainability, the first contract authoring body to do so, followed wide consultation with the industry.

The development phase involved extensive liaison with the different elements which make up the JCT council which include RIBA, RICS, BPF, LGA, NSCC, CC and SBCC.

Professor Peter Hibberd, JCT chairman, said: "The new provisions create a structured framework under which client organisations can consider various sustainability requirements when employing consultants, contractors and subcontractors".

"We are not being prescriptive; it would not be practical or appropriate to impose rigid requirements, as every project is different.

Instead, we provide guidelines under which the project team can work together to agree what is desirable and what is possible within the contract.

"With the majority of building projects using JCT contracts, the introduction of these new provisions will hopefully have a significant impact on the sustainability of the industry as a whole".

"It is another demonstration of how JCT sets the standard in contract forms in the industry".

David Walker, ICON (EM) chairman, said: "The iCon building will, as the name suggests, be an iconic building, but not only for Daventry but for the construction industry as a whole".

"The team has put a considerable amount of thought into the design and construction, to ensure it is as sustainable as practicably possible within the available budget".

The development and use of the new JCT guidance has been similarly innovative, providing us with a ready-made framework from which to build sustainability conditions, ensuring that our good work is transferred all the way down the supply chain.

The iCon building is to be constructed on land donated by Daventry District Council (DDC) and Northamptonshire County Council (NCC), and forms part of a wider programme for the regeneration of Daventry town centre.

Funding for the iCon is being provided by East Midlands Development Agency (emda), the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) while West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC) have part-funded and are delivering the project.

The University of Northampton and East Midlands Centre for Constructing the Built Environment alongside WNDC and DDC make up the charitable organisation ICON (EM).

The main tenant of the iCon building when it is completed, the Sustainable Construction iNet, is currently based at the University of Northampton.

The project is managed by a consortium led by the University and consists of a team of dedicated innovation advisors who will work closely with businesses in the construction sector to help them adopt the new techniques and technologies required to meet future targets for low carbon buildings.

In addition, the iNet will be able to draw on the support and resources of a 15 strong consortium comprising universities, professional bodies and research associations.

Together, these organisations will provide an invaluable and unique combination of resources, knowledge and assistance to businesses involved in sustainable construction.

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