Chinese Vice Premier visits BRE

China's Vice Premier Li Keqiang visited BRE's Innovation Park in Watford yesterday (January 12) during his visit to the UK.


Accompanied by the Business Secretary Vince Cable, the Vice Premier was given a tour of BRE’s demonstration park featuring some of the world’s most sustainable buildings and homes.

The Innovation Park won edie’s Best Sustainable Construction Award in 2009, which judges called ‘mind-blowing’ and a ‘glimpse of the future today’.

The Vice Premier toured three of the 12 buildings on the park – the net zero carbon Barratt Green House, the UK manufactured, recycled steel Cub House and the BRE Victorian Terrace which features a range of materials and technologies used to improve the energy efficiency and carbon footprint of existing homes.

BRE Dr Peter Bonfield, Chief Executive of, said “It was an honour to host Vice Premier Li at BRE today.

“He was impressed by what he saw here and this is a very positive endorsement of the work of BRE and our park partners.

“We hope the visit will open up new opportunities for us in China, particularly on the new low-carbon city developments currently being planned and constructed.

“We also hope the visit will encourage more Chinese companies to get involved with what we are doing here.”

China has a booming construction industry and it is estimated that nearly half of the world’s new building construction will be in China by 2015.

There is high demand for energy to run China’s massive apartment and office developments, so the Chinese authorities have a vested interest in pursuing energy efficient options in construction.

Alison Brown

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