More than 1,000 solar panels have been installed at the new £35m EG Group headquarters in Blackburn, making it one of the most environmentally-friendly buildings in the country.

The four-storey building with views over Fishmoor Reservoir in Haslingden Road took three years to complete and takes up 130,000 square feet of space. The new offices can accommodate up to 700 staff, and it is believed to be the largest commercial building project of its kind in the region.

Huddersfield-based U Energy Solar said the building has been designed with ‘energy savings and carbon offsetting’ at its core.

The steel frame structure encompasses triple skinned composite panelled walls, designed and cladded by Leach Structural Steelwork based in Garstang, which helps with heating and cooling. Double glazed reflective coated windows, air sourced heating and cooling provides the rest, with the prayer areas also underfloor heated.

Lancashire Telegraph:

The lights are ultra-efficient LED with in-built movement sensors paired with auto-dimming features, and there is also a rainwater harvesting system for the outdoor green areas.

U Energy director Farhan Gohir said: “The team at U Energy delivered the huge 400kW roof-mounted Solar PV system as a turn-key EPC contract. The system is the first Subsidy Free Solar system on any of Euro Garages’ estates, meaning the system relies on no external funding and will pay for itself within a relatively short period. 

“The system from conception to realisation took eight months. Over 1,200 solar panels with 8km of cabling were installed”

“Carbon savings are estimated to be around 60 tons a year. The system has been calculated to produce 320,000kWh of green electricity per annum. Excess electricity produced, especially in the summer months, will be automatically fed back into the Blackburn grid to be used by other local sites.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

The building includes a large reception area, conference facilities, training rooms, a prayer area, and staff restaurant  and two large open-plan offices.