King's Cross masterplan
Developer Argent (King’s Cross) Limited
Landowners London and Continental Railways Limited and Exel plc
Masterplanners Allies & Morrison and Porphyrius Architects
King’s Cross Central is a 67 acre brownfield site situated between and to the north of King’s Cross and St Pancras Stations. 11 outline planning applications were submitted in 2004 including proposals for new homes, retail, office and leisure facilities, open spaces and cultural uses and the refurbishment of historic structures and buildings. The proposals totaled some 742,275 sqare metres of development.
The proposals are supported by an environmental Sustainability Strategy (ESS), which sets targets for reduced carbon emissions, to be delivered through using energy efficiently, the use of renewable energy, and supply efficiency measures. All new buildings would be designed to achieve BREEAM and EcoHomes ‘very good’ ratings as a minimum, with an aspiration for ‘excellent’ (or equivalent assessment method and ratings).
It is estimated that King’s Cross Central buildings would be at least 5 percent more efficient than the Building Regulations in force at this time.. District Heating and Combined Heat and Power systems (incorporating at least one fuel cell) would deliver additional savings in carbon emissions. Together, these building energy efficiency and supply efficiency measures are likely to save over 5,000 tonnes of carbon per annum, a reduction of 32percent, compared with current benchmarks.
The King’s Cross development partners have made additional commitments to renewable energy, in particular photovoltaics, ground source heat pumps, solar thermal and wind turbines. These measures are calculated to save a further 71tonnes of carbon per annum. With these measures, King’s Cross Central would use less energy, use renewable energy and supply energy efficiently, together, they are likely to deliver annual carbon savings of some 33 percent, compared with ‘current business as usual’ energy benchmarks. At least 15 percent of the roof area of new buildings constructed within the development would be green/brown roofs (or equivalent systems).
The long-term aim is for King’s Cross Central to achieve a 60 percent reduction in carbon emissions from 2000 levels, by 2050. Investments in district heating and Combined Heat and Power systems would ‘future proof’ the development and provide the means to achieve this target, of which the first step would be by using top-up boilers fired by biofuels, should market, supply chain and other conditions allow.
This Energy Assessment shows that the future implementation of biofuel technology could save a further 1,000 tonnes of carbon annually and bring the proportion of the development’s energy needs generated on-site by renewable technologies up to 10 percent. The total carbon savings would then be some 39 percent, compared with ‘current business as usual’ energy benchmarks.
King's Cross Masterplan online
Exhibited at New London Architecture
