Former gas works home to new green Olympic business park

Business relocated from the Olympic site will now be housed in what's being labelled as a 'a futuristic business park' that raises the 'eco' bar with an assortment of green features lowering the site's carbon footprint.


Gemini Business Park in Beckton is the work of the London Development Agency (LDA) along with partner Rosemound Developments Limited. The site has been transformed from a derelict gas works site into an environmentally-sustainable 27-unit business park.

“Gemini is just one example of how the LDA is using the Olympics to benefit other parts of London with sustainable developments. This former heavily polluted, ex-gasworks site is now setting the trend for eco design and bringing thriving businesses and employee spending power to a largely ignored area,” said Manny Lewis, chief executive of the LDA.

“Businesses are already relocating here from the Olympic site because we planned the park back when the Olympic bid was first made. With over 650 employment opportunities we want this park to be a hub for business in this part of London.”

The 470,000 sq ft Park comrpises office, industrial and warehouse space with units ranging in size from 5,000 to 110,000 sq ft.

The installation of energy efficiency measures and renewable technologies will reduce energy use, leading to an estimated 13% drop in carbon emissions. This will place the park on course to exceed the 2006 “very good” rating set out by environmental assessors BREEAM.

The main environmental highlights installed in the building works at Gemini Business Park include:

  • Photovoltaic and solar thermal panels, as well as ground source heat pumps.
  • Water efficient appliances and grey water recycling systems that will reduce the volume of rain water entering London’s already over stretched surface water drainage system.
  • Over 4500m square meters of wildflower meadow for people and wildlife.

    The LDA says that businesses relocating from the Olympic Park site to Gemini Business Park have been offered first refusal on purpose built units that can improve their operations as part of an LDA support package.

    Dana Gornitzki

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