SouthGate, Bath Sustainability Initiative
SouthGate, Bath is a 460,000 sq ft open shopping
centre with 99 residential apartments that has been designed with
the environment in mind. Sustainability has been part of SouthGate,
Bath from conception and through design, planning and construction.
As it is a new development and an open streetscape, there isn't
much mechanical and electrical equipment that needs to be kept
running as with a traditional covered mall.
SouthGate, Bath operates a number of sustainability initiatives.
Some of which were incorporated into the original build, and others
which Centre Management have developed through active day to day
management. We believe it is important to share this information
with our tenants, customers and our peers so they understand how
important sustainability is to us and also that we are constantly
striving to do better.
Aviva Investors Sustainability Statement:
At Aviva Investors we believe that responsible investment
requires a detailed understanding of sustainability issues. As a
major international real estate asset manager, we are working with
our partners and advisors to fully play our part in ensuring the
real estate industry plays a leading role in addressing the world's
sustainability challenges. At Aviva Investors real estate we
believe that through a major commitment to sustainability and its
complexities we will continue to deliver our clients investment
objectives.'
Do we recycle?
Yes we do, we have recycled waste at SouthGate, Bath since the
opening of the first phase in November 2009 where this in itself
was a difficult task. As new retailers have come on board, we have
started as we meant to go on and have instilled the sustainability
message into our retailers and their staff.
- We recycle 10 tonnes of cardboard per month as a scheme. The
City has recently achieved a Business Improvement District (BID)
status, and we will be working with the City of Bath to increase
its percentage of cardboard that is recycled also.
- As food and beverage forms part of SouthGate, Bath we recycle
glass that comes from bottles and glasses. This has a twofold
benefit, it is good to recycle the glass and it aids the longevity
of the compaction equipment as the tiny glass shards don't get into
the working mechanisms and wear away the moving parts. We are also
looking at separating food waste.
- We currently recycle half a tonne of plastic wrapping per month
and are looking into segregating other forms of plastics i.e. coat
hangers, tote boxes, etc to help retailers as some have difficulty
disposing of.
- We have receptacles for the management office and recycle
paper, card and plastics.
- We dispose of fluorescent tubes, lamps and other electrical
items as per government guidelines.
- Our general waste is sent to a mixed recycling facility where
it is separated and segregated further.
How do we manage Electricity and water?
Electricity
- All of our incoming supplies are metered and all of our tenants
are individually metered.
- All back of house area lighting is switched by motion sensors
(Passive Infra Red) so lights are only on when needed.
- All external street lighting is controlled by the building
management system and by LUX level sensors. The lights are only on
when needed and are automatically switched off as soon as it is
light.
- As the development is an open streetscape, there is no heating
or cooling, no escalators, etc so this helps keep the environmental
impact to a minimum.
Water
- All of the incoming water supplies are metered, this includes
individual metering for all retailers.
- There is a grey water plan that is part of the original section
106 development agreement and through this we have a rainwater
harvesting system. This system collects rain water from the roofs
of the building and stores in 2 large storage tanks that is used to
flush the public toilets
Do we care about the community?
- We care a great deal about both our internal shopping centre
community and also the wider city centre community of which we form
a part.
- We get involved in a number of City Centre initiatives and
support with time and financial contributions. Bath in Fashion,
Bath Christmas Lights Switch On to name a few.
- We give out promotional space, when requested, to local
charities and good causes at no charge so they can collect and
promote their good causes. One example of this is the Dorothy House
Midnight Walk that starts and finishes with us bringing 1,500
ladies to the scheme at midnight for cancer awareness, we also get
retailers to open later and be involved where possible.
- We help and support our own retailers in the same way to help
them promote their business, the shopping centre and the wider
City. Also keeping retailers informed of initiatives through
regular forums.
- We provide a number of free entertainment initiatives through
the school holidays, some of which have an educational twist.
- The Centres General Manager regularly attends a number of the
City Centre forums and is instrumental in the decision making
process for City Centre Management through the Business Improvement
District.
- We have a Green Travel Plan for the shopping centre that
informs retailers and their staff of the sustainable ways they can
get to SouthGate, Bath. This is reviewed annually and amendments to
the modes of transport available are regularly made.
What are our future plans?
To get more actively involved with our retailers to see where we
can help them with any issues they have and if they are common
throughout SouthGate, Bath, to take responsibility for them.
To work closely with the Business Improvement District and the
City Centre and roll out initiatives that are of benefit to the
scheme. Through this to help our smaller and independent retailers
save money on their operating costs.
A solar power initiative is being examined to provide free
charging points for electric vehicles users in the car park. To
look into ways of maximising the reduction in the general waste
stream and to recycle at source rather than relying on the mixed
recycling facility to perform that function.
The scheme's outward looking open plan streets and squares
design makes it inclusive in contrast to more traditional inward
looking and exclusive malls which attracts around 1.5m visitors per
month adding hugely to the local economy.
The SouthGate, Bath design makes the scheme very sustainable as
the layout, reflecting the vernacular architecture of which the
City is renowned, is future proofed and the absence of any air
conditioning and central plant creates low energy requirements and
very little impact of obsolescence.