Environment

The Plymouth Life Centre site falls within the development area outlined in the Central Park Area Action Plan and we have worked hard to keep any loss of green space to an absolute minimum.

The 'land grab' or 'footprint' of the site is roughly the same as that of the former Mayflower Leisure Centre and Central Park Leisure Pools sites, which are due to be returned to parkland following demolition of the buildings.

The scheme features extensive landscaping and will have more trees than were previously on the site. A Devon hedge that was carefully removed before construction has been rebuilt near the car park as part of the landscaping works.

We have also installed dozens of bird and bat boxes across Central Park to promote and enhance biodiversity and the conservation of breeding birds and wildlife.

The building itself has been designed to modern standards with maximum energy efficiency in mind. Features include:

• Use of natural ventilation where possible
• Low emission boilers
• Variable heating systems
• Mechanical ventilation with high-efficiency heat recovery
• High efficiency lighting
• Underfloor heating
• Daylight controlled lighting, with 'absence detection'
• Low water consumption fittings (including showers)
• Combined heat and power system
• Biomass boilers
• Rainwater collection and reuse system
• Automatic controls and energy management system