Marks & Spencer announced plans to open its most sustainable UK store at Ecclesall Road in Sheffield. The store will be the first of a number of planned ‘Sustainable Learning’ stores, which will further increase M&S’ understanding of sustainable construction techniques and processes.

The new 12,400 sq ft Simply Food store, due to open in April and built from scratch on a former brownfield site, incorporates a host of sustainable and innovative design and construction features. The store is set to achieve a BREEAM rating of Excellent, and has received a Considerate Constructors Scheme score of 37.5 out of 40, making it one of the most sustainable retail outlets in the UK.

Image: www.ecobuildzine.com

When it is fully unveiled the store will have the following features (to name a few):

—100% of the construction waste produced in the building of the store has been recycled;

—All the bricks have been reclaimed from an old mill;

—Harvested rainwater will supply all the toilets and irrigate the store’s green ‘living wall’, reducing water costs by up to 40% compared with a conventional similarly sized store;

—The store will also be heated by expelled heat from its refrigeration units, helping to reduce the its carbon output by 23%;

—A sedum roof and green ‘living wall’ will create wildlife habitats as well as insulate the building and act as a pollution filter;

—In total, 62 types of plants are being planted on or around the store;

—Electric car charging points will be available in the car park;

—LED screens in the store will give customers real time local transport information;

M&S announced in 2010 a commitment to opening two ‘Sustainable Learning Stores’ a year as part of its goal to become the world’s most sustainable major retailer by 2015 through its sustainability program Plan A.