Leading operator shows that investing in upgrading offices is a win for all stakeholders
RO Real Estate announces that Scottsdale Lifetime Partners and Tickets.com have signed up as new tenants in its flagship office Silbury House, in Milton Keynes the most sustainable office building in the city. Built in the 1990s, Silbury House exemplifies the transformative potential of existing office buildings becoming models for energy efficiency. The building has now achieved an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) A rating, showcasing what can be achieved through careful refurbishment, and demonstrating the calibre of tenants attracted to modern and sustainable offices.
The refurbishment of Silbury House is also targeting an Outstanding BREEAM rating, which represents the top 1% of UK buildings. It is also targeting NABERS 5 stars through its energy efficiency measures, a rating it would share with only two other buildings in the UK. As well as sustainability; wellbeing was also a key consideration for the refurbishment which includes a communal breakout/workspace to promote cross-tenant relationships and interactions and a shared city garden for outdoor relaxation space. Air quality is monitored and maintained to the highest level and there is also on-site workout facilities and cycle storage.
Scottsdale Lifetime Partners and Tickets.com are the newest occupiers of Silbury House, and for nearly three decades, Scottsdale has helped people across the UK achieve their financial goals. Since 2017, they have been members of the Lifetime Group, one of the UK’s leading wealth advisory firms. The other new tenant Tickets.com has its HQ in California, with other offices in New York, Colorado, and the UK, and is the technology provider for over a million live events around the world, and supports its clients in selling over 95 million tickets annually. (Picture – Silbury House, Milton Keynes)
Ed Davidson, Asset Management Director at RO Real Estate, said: ‘The Silbury House project navigated the complexities of modernising an older building to meet contemporary standards, incorporating architectural modifications, building services upgrades, and energy-efficient technologies. The integration of extensive solar panels, innovative construction methods, advanced energy systems, and sustainable materials has established Silbury House as a leader in energy performance, and we are delighted to welcome Scottsdale Lifetime Partners and Tickets.com, who recognise the importance of sustainability, not only as a value demanded today by employees, but also as a means to reduce energy costs and impact on the environment.’
Central to the transformation of Silbury House was the infill of the atrium, the upgrade of lighting systems to include advanced controls, and the adoption of a hybrid Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system for optimised heating, cooling, and hot water delivery. Another major sustainability feature is the installation of 116 solar panels, with a total capacity of 41 kWp. This system not only covers up to 20% of the building’s energy demand but also significantly reduces reliance on non-renewable sources. The building also has 8 EV chargers.
Cutting edge software for energy consumption and carbon emissions analysis ensured that refurbishment decisions were both informed and impactful. Measures such as applying solar control film and upgrading blinds, contributed to thermal comfort and energy savings.
Everything in Silbury House has been designed to create an inviting environment that improves occupant health and productivity, aligning with the building’s highest achievable Fitwel rating – the world’s leading certification system to support wellbeing. This design incorporates RESET air quality control and modern lounge and break out areas, ergonomic and sustainably made furniture, secure cycle storage, and a garden courtyard.
The RO is a family-owned group of companies established in 1932. Investing in diverse range of interests, commercial property, housebuilding, and venture capital. RO Real Estate, its commercial property division, has built over 1.1 million sq. ft. to date and currently manages over 300,000 sq. ft. of office, industrial, and retail. All acquisitions are funded through existing cash resources, meaning that the RO is able to move quickly if the appropriate investment criteria are met.
RO’s award winning housebuilder, Metis Homes, builds modern homes with traditional values and has created a diverse portfolio of bespoke, high-quality homes in prime locations – from traditional properties in rural settings to contemporary town centre schemes.
RO Capital Partners is the Group’s venture capital arm. Capital Partners is an active, early-stage investment partner principally focusing on: Proptech (the use of technology to innovate the built environment and real estate market); and Cleantech (solutions addressing the challenges of environmental sustainability and the transition to a low carbon economy).
RO Land was established in 2020 to build on the group’s existing successes in land acquisition and planning. Its objective is to add value to land by unlocking its development potential. It promotes greenfield and brownfield sites for a wide range of uses, including residential, commercial, and alternatives such as renewables. It has a long term investment approach which allows it to unlock sites that may be considered too difficult by other promoters.
Andrew Stanton Founder & Editor of 'PROPTECH-X' where his insights, connections, analysis and commentary on proptech and real estate are based on writing 1.3M words annually. Plus meeting 1,000 Proptech founders, critiquing 400 decks and having had 130 clients as CEO of 'PROPTECH-PR', a consultancy for Proptech founders seeking growth and exit strategies. He also acts as an advisory for major global real estate companies on sales, acquisitions, market positioning & operations. With 100K followers & readers, he is the 'Proptech Realestate Influencer.'
