New environmentally friendly and modern office accommodation for Veolia employees
The company is to relocate its offices in Wolverhampton and Brownhills, Walsall to one location at the Kingswood Lakeside site in Cannock, Staffordshire.
The move will provide environmentally friendly, modern, comfortable, efficient office accommodation for all employees under one roof, helping to improve cross functional working and communication across all departments.
The proposed development will include environmental technologies including; roof mounted solar panels which will provide the domestic hot water, a rainwater collection system which will be used to flush toilets and light sensors which will ensure the lights are only activated when the office is occupied. These technologies, together with a ‘green travel plan’ for staff will ensure that the building achieves a BREEAM excellent rating.
The planned move follows a thorough process, with the main focus being the ease of commuting for staff to one single location. The Kingswood Lakeside site which is part owned by Staffordshire County Council and Advantage West Midlands, was chosen as the preferred location for the new 40,000sq ft office building and a planning application will be submitted to the Council imminently.
Jean-Dominique Mallet, Chief Executive Officer for Veolia Environmental Services (UK) said: “Our proposed new offices at Cannock, Staffordshire will not only be built to a high environmental specification but they will also provide our staff with a modern, comfortable working environment. We are also delighted to be able to make this long term commitment to the Staffordshire economy.”
Mike Lawrence, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy, Skills and Enterprise said: “Veolia are just the sort of cutting edge technologically driven environmental sector company that will drive the economy forward. Their choice to consolidate in Staffordshire is a real boost. This is great news for Staffordshire, for Cannock, for the economy and for the environment.”
Stuart Kirkwood, Director of Development at Advantage West Midlands, said: “We are delighted that Veolia has decided to consolidate its operations in the West Midlands and that we have been able to facilitate this move to Cannock, through working closely with our regional partners. Having such a well established employer in the West Midlands will boost the economy and generate more local jobs for local people.”
Gareth Williams, Opus Development Director said: “Opus’s ability to access in-house funds such as the Palmer GVA Property Fund combined with extensive experience and market knowledge give it a unique competitive edge which is of obvious appeal to tenants such as Veolia, seeking a long lease on high quality space at reasonable terms.”
Veolia plans to move staff to the new offices, which can accommodate in excess of 400 employees and which will house a bistro and conferencing suite for 50 people, in May 2011.