Supermarket looks to set low energy benchmark

The £9.5m supermarket in Peterborough, covering 4,162 square metres, is being built by Willmott Dixon, which claims that it will be the first in Europe to be entirely lit by LED lighting.

It will also be one of the first to use only hydrocarbons instead of hydroflorocarbons in its refrigeration system. While this technology has been partly adopted in some retail facilities, the Peterborough store will be the first Morrisons to adopt this throughout the store, following extensive testing at its Arctic Circle research and development premises in Hereford and a trial at its Telford store.

There will also be no ceiling so that it can accommodate north-facing roof windows to provide natural daylight. Photovoltaic panels will be installed to the south-facing roof and a solar wall system on the south side cladding will heat air in voids within the cladding and draw it into the building’s heating and ventilation system.

Other eco features include electric car charging points and rainwater harvesting for the toilet flushing system.

The store will complete in September before opening to the public in October following an internal fit-out. Willmott Dixon is working with architect Davis Weatherill Partnership in conjunction with M&E consultant NG Bailey and refrigeration partner Honeywell.

Willmott Dixon retail director Clive Pople said: “This will be a low carbon store the entire retail industry will aim to replicate as they look to adopt new ways to reduce reliance on expensive energy and cut running costs. We will use our learning here to be a strategic partner for customers like Morrisons as we help them meet the challenges created by the UK’s ongoing transformation to a low carbon economy.”

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