
The Challenge:
Cherwell District Council were looking to build a new office building to accommodate up to 125 people. The building would be built to stringent environmental requirements and would incorporate a carbon neutral design, delivered to both the Passivhaus ‘Plus’ standard and a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ certification.
Kier were contracted through the Scape National Minor Works framework.

The Solution:
A wide range of sustainability features were implemented into the building in order to meet stringent Passivhaus ‘Plus’ criteria and a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ certification.
The building was well insulated to reduce heat loss during the winter. Furthermore through combining natural and mechanical ventilation, the building kept air fresh during warmer months.
Solar panels were installed on the building’s roof, helping to reduce energy consumption and lowering running costs.

The Impact:
Through the unique design of the building and the integration of a range of sustainability features, a Passivhaus ‘Plus’ standard was achieved alongside a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ certification. This has been the first non-domestic building in the UK to achieve the Passivhaus ‘Plus’ standard.
The building provides workspace for local businesses and residents, particularly in the eco construction and environmental goods and services, providing a central hub and flexible work space.
" All the Kier team assigned to the project have been focused on delivering quality. This is evident in the collaborative approach enjoyed in project team meetings. Along with the finish of the building, the quality approach is further evidenced by the submissions for both BREEAM and Passivhaus, as well as positive audits by the Considerate Constructors scheme. "Jonathan MacWilliam Cherwell District Council
View more projects
Every project we deliver is an opportunity for us to bring our unique thinking to solve problems, innovate and collaborate with our clients and beyond.
Butlin’s Splash, Bognor Regis
Building a £40m state of the art swimming pool and leisure complex within the existing Butlin’s resort in Bognor Regis, West Sussex.
Wexham Park Hospital Emergency Department and Assessment Centre
The design and build of a £36m emergency department and assessment centre, creating one of the most innovative care units in the NHS.
Project Maia - Infineum
Delivery of a 33,500ft2 Global Centre of Innovation at Infineum’s headquarters in Abingdon; featuring new petrochemical laboratories for research and development into new formulas for fuel additives; collaborative meeting spaces, office accommodation, a new staff restaurant and improved site infrastructure.
Gatwick Airport Overall Works
We have delivered over £50m of works at London Gatwick Airport, working closely with key stakeholders to deliver a multi-storey car park, out of gauge (OOG) baggage, airline moves and upgrades of security facilities.
3 Sovereign Square
Developing a new, six-storey office building in central Leeds, ensuring the design blended in with the surrounding historic buildings, using lean planning to ensure the smooth running of the project, applying innovative thinking to the build, and achieving an Excellent BREEAM sustainability rating.
5 Pancras Square
One of the most sustainable mixed-use building in the country and winner of the Prime Minister’s Better Public Building award.
Pall Mall, Liverpool
Kier was selected by Liverpool City Council to deliver a new mixed commercial quarter known as Pall Mall, in partnership with CTP.
Reigate Grange Care Home
Creating a three-story luxury care home with a range of amenities and landscaped gardens.
Heron House
Refurbishment of a six-storey vibrant public building in Manchester City Centre, creating over £12.2m of social return on investment.
Bicester Eco Business Centre
The design and construction of a highly sustainable Passivhaus ‘Plus’ 1,400m2 office building. Laid out over three floors to accommodate up to 125 people, providing local office space for individuals and small businesses.
Reading Gateway
Identifying this 20.5 acre site in Reading as a strategic development opportunity, delivering a retail and leisure scheme including new homes, a hotel, retail space, car showrooms and industrial units, trailing new innovations and generating 263 jobs and £138m of social value.
Brighton Mainline: Building Resilience
Supporting the power requirement for ongoing Brighton Main Line signalling renewal works. We installed a Westplex System in order to upgrade a key commuter line to increase the quantity of trains able to utilise the line.
Alfred H Knight's Office and Analytical Laboratory
Alfred H Knight is a commodity analysis and mining support specialist who required our design and cost management services to build a new state-of-the-art head office and analytical laboratory.
The Aperture
The Aperture is the first phase of residential buildings on the Greenwich Peninsula. This five storey building comprises of a restaurant and deli on the ground floor, day nursery on the first floor, estate management and a community centre on the second/third floors with a gym on the remaining floors.
The Ogilvie Building
The Ogilvie (formerly known as the Sanger Sequencing Building) provides 4,430m² of flexible laboratory and office space and an integrated energy centre which will feed future developments on the greenfield site.
Surrey Street Market
Regenerating Britain's oldest market in 10 weeks, collaborating with a wide range of supply chain partners, engaging with the local residents, businesses and traders and bringing a delicate touch to a much loved historical site.
University of Essex STEM Centre
Creating a state of the art teaching centre for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
S-Skills for Highways
Partnering Surrey County Council with an innovative scheme that brings vulnerable people in social care into the workplace, supporting these candidates to be able to carry out basic highway works in the community and helping tackle the national social care time bomb.
London Southend Airport Terminal Extension
Designing and building a terminal extension to quadruple passenger capacity, whilst achieving excellent sustainability certification.
Watford Riverwell
Delivering the £450m Watford Riverwell as a 15-20 year joint venture with Watford Borough Council, which involves regenerating 70 acres of land in West Watford to create residential, office, retail, leisure, industrial and hotel space.
Yr Egin Media and Office Development
Bringing an iconic and sustainable development to the Carmarthen campus of the University of Wales, providing 40,000 sq. ft. of accommodation for for Welsh Media company S4C and the University's new media faculty and offices, and achieving a BREEAM Excellent certificate for sustainability.
58 Victoria Embankment
Located on the River Thames Embankment, this project involved the demolition of the existing building behind a retained façade and the construction of a new steel framed Cat A office with a concrete basement. Inside the building, being the main feature is the central atrium and 3 scenic glass lifts.
Reading 10 Car Feeders and ETE
Creating additional capacity on trains from Reading to London Suburbs by delivering 10-car feeders.
Wexham Park Women's Services
The redevelopment of Wexham Park Hospital Women’s Services consisted of the remodelling of the Maternity and Gynaecology Facilities. This forming brand new, state of the art facilities for Slough and the surrounding areas.
Project Horizon
Working with Surrey County Council and the supply chain to deliver £120m of work for £100m on the fourth busiest road network in the UK, dramatically improving the condition of the roads in the county, driving down the cost of materials and increasing investment in new techniques and equipment.
Materials Analysis Laboratory
New head office and analytical laboratory for metallurgical consultants.
Jaguar Land Rover Car Showroom
Constructing a high specification Jaguar Land Rover car showroom for high-end tenant Jardine Motors, ensuring high quality design and build standards.
Howick Place
Situated close to Westminster Cathedral, Howick Place is an architecturally stunning building designed by Rolfe Judd Architecture. The building takes inspiration from the surrounding conservation area, whilst creating an environment to meet all 21st century needs.
Harlow Rugby Club partnership
Unlocking new homes through partnership working in Harlow.
ED1SON Capital Delivery Alliance
A step change in the way DNO capital works and connections are delivered. Together with UK Power Networks and our Alliance partners, we deliver the improvements necessary to achieve OFGEM-mandated outputs in Customer Service, Safety, Sustainability and Network Health and Reliability.
Cancer Centre of Immunology
Designing and building the UK’s first dedicated centre for cancer immunology research to bring together world-leading cancer scientists and enable interdisciplinary teams to expand clinical trials and develop more lifesaving drugs.
Balcombe Signalling
Upgrading a key commuter line to increase the quantity of trains able to utilise the line.
Baker Barracks
Constructing and refurbishing critical MoD accommodation and infrastructure, whilst creating value for the armed forces community through CSR.
Aureus Secondary School
Delivering a new secondary school on the Great Western Park Development in Didcot, ensuring it was completed in time for the start of the new school year, creating extensive outdoor sports facilities as well as a building for 1,200 students and working alongside contractors delivering housing projects.
33 Foley Street
Delivering a central London office space where people feel inspired and want to work and collaborate, bringing together a number of Kier businesses to work jointly on the project, adding an extra floor to the building and extending two other floors to create a stunning modern space.
Millstream Tower
Demolition of an existing structure followed by the design and construction of a new 22 storey residential development of 128 dwellings and one commercial unit. This is our seventh project completed for Newlon Housing Trust.
Dyson, Hullavington
The design and redevelopment of a World War II hanger, to create a new research and development centre for Dyson.
Bartholomew School
Enhancing the estate of an already ‘outstanding’ Ofsted school to provide up-to-date facilities, fit for 21st-century learning.
Delivering and adapting industrial units for SEGRO
We have delivered over £200m of works for SEGRO, across 33 projects over the last fourteen years. Working collaboratively with SEGRO and its tenants, we have a successful track record and flexible approach in delivering and adapting industrial units to tenants’ needs.
Shire Hall
The re-emergence of Gloucestershire County Council’s (GCC) Shire Hall after its retrofit and refurbishment reads like a fairy-tale. Over 165 weeks and 82 phases of collaborative, innovative team-working, the part-listed, part 1960’s building, an eyesore, tired and inefficient, was responsibly and dynamically transformed into an elegant and highly sustainable workplace.
‘The Biosphere’ Helix Development
Design and construction of a new 7,200m2 laboratory facility. The building consists of a mixture of biology and chemistry spaces, office spaces, unfitted spaces and associated external infrastructure works. The facility has two floors of containment level 2 fitted labs and write-up areas, together with shared wash-up facilities.
Piries Place Car Park
New carpark, with iconic 14.5m living wall, provides much-needed, modern spacious multi-level parking facilities, completing the regeneration of Piries Place, an historic area of Horsham in West Sussex. Delivered through the Scape National Minor Works framework, the new car park, provides 189 additional spaces.
Ecclesiastical Insurance Group Headquarters
Ecclesiastical Insurance Group, one of Gloucester’s biggest employers, had offices throughout the city which were not considered future proof. They decided to consolidate all Gloucester based staff into a new purpose-build headquarters on Gloucester Business Park. The building is leased from Arlington, owners of the business park, and long-term clients of Kier.
Springhead Park Primary School
Springhead Park Primary School is a brand new modular two-form of entry with additional 26 nursery spaces in Ebbsfleet, Kent. The new schools holds 420 pupils ages from 3 – 11. The building includes teaching space, food tech facilities, science laboratories, multi-use agency space and hard court play area.
Gosport Borough Council - responsive repairs and planned maintenance
Delivering responsive repairs and planned maintenance to 3200 homes in Gosport as well as specialist works including gas systems, electrical works and major disabled adaptations. Every year we deliver over 12,000 repairs and take approximately 17,000 calls.
Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School
Design and construction of two replacement buildings as part of a 1,100 pupil school in Canterbury, Kent, providing 7,500m² of teaching space across a range of traditional classrooms and learning areas with specialist areas for art, science and technology. The second phase, currently underway, includes asbestos clearance, demolition of the existing school buildings, construction of a car park and MUGA area.
Ebbsfleet Green Primary School
The design and construction of a new modular build 2FE primary school within Ebbsfleet Garden City, Kent, catering for students ranging from nursery to year six. The school also includes specialist resources for up to 15 pupils with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder plus a 26-place nursery.
The Heights Primary School, Reading
Constructing a new primary school to address the shortage of pupil places in Reading, Berkshire.
Contego Battery Storage Plant
Powering up one of the largest and most advanced battery storage plants in the UK.
80 Grosvenor Street
80 Grosvenor Street is located in Mayfair, London and provides 17,500 sq ft state of the art office and retail accommodation over five storeys behind a partially retained Georgian façade. It includes high-end interior finishes, private terraces with panoramic views and luxurious contemporary spa style amenities.
Heatherwood Hospital
The design and build of a £98m state-of-the-art facility using the latest technology to deliver outstanding services to NHS and private patients across Berkshire, Hampshire, and Surrey.
10 Lewis Cubitt Square
10 Lewis Cubitt Square forms part of the 67-acre King’s Cross Central Limited Partnership (KCCLP) redevelopment. It is a mixed-use 12 storey commercial development for tenant Meta, built to CAT A fit-out standard and offering nine floors of flexible office space. It also includes a large flexible retail unit at street level plus a 600-seat theatre.