'Retrofit for the Future' to make sustainable design a reality

Office design news from Morgan Lovell

Published on 30-01-2009

The government has unveiled a new £10 million competition called Retrofit for the Future to help get creative juices flowing in the field of sustainable design.

Organised and run by the Technology Strategy Board, the competition aims to develop new solutions to tackling the problems surrounding sustainable office design in the UK.

The project will focus on the development of clean technology; advanced manufacturing; healthcare and biotech; high value-added services including information and communication Technologies; creative industries; and education.

Secretary of state John Denham said: "Our ability as a nation to innovate and build links between good science and business will help ensure we will emerge stronger when the upturn comes."

Meanwhile, Anthony Zahra, a spokesperson for the National Landlords' Association, recently commented that buildings with better green credentials are becoming more attractive to tenants looking to reduce overheads during the current financial crisis.

He added that new energy performance certificates will allow prospective renters to see just how energy efficient a property is.