Exterior living wall
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Vanguard Logistics Park
Located in a protected national park region, this BREEAM Outstanding development sets the standard for sustainable logistics parks.
Background
An industrial development in the heart of South Downs
The South Downs National Park is a protected area in the UK that’s known for its exceptional natural beauty. The Park is home to numerous rare species and globally significant habitats. As an International Dark Sky Reserve, it’s also one of the best places in the country for stargazing.
For a logistics park to achieve planning in such an area, it would need an ambitious sustainability strategy. Equation Properties assembled a team to deliver a sustainable logistics solution that respected the Park’s beauty and ecological value.
Initial concepts for the logistics park incorporated:
- Low and zero carbon technologies
- Locally sourced timber cladding
- External spaces for people to connect with nature
- Protected acid grassland areas
- Green walls to reduce the massing of the large buildings
Clearly conveying their sustainability commitment to the planning authority was of utmost importance to the client. As a result, the green walls were re-designed from wire trellises and climbing plants to soil-based modules to maximise biodiversity net gain potential and deliver immediate impact. This is when Viritopia joined the project.
Strategy
Consulting for planning approval in a protected area
We set out to optimise the plot’s biodiversity net gain, carbon footprint, and not least of all, visual appearance. Industrial buildings don’t need to look bulky and grey — they can draw inspiration from the beauty of their surroundings. With native timber and outdoor spaces incorporated in the drawings, lush living walls rounded out the development’s nature-led vision.
Our consultants elevated the already energy-efficient industrial design with rainwater harvesting and strategic plant palettes. We selected species with strong air purifying and particulate-capturing qualities as well as plants that offer habitats for wildlife.
The resulting scheme satisfied the South Downs National Park Authority and the project was granted planning approval. Grown and hardened in our nursery, the plants were soon ready for installation. The process went without a hitch.
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Wires & climbers vs. Viritopia’s living wall system
Why was Viritopia’s modular, soil-based living wall system the right choice for this project?
How soil-based green walls compare to wires and climbers:
- Range of plant species: Wires and climbers only allow you to use vining plants, like ivy. Planting in soil provides the widest variety of planting options.
- Biodiversity net gain: With a wider range of plants to choose from (including native species), soil-based living walls offer greater BNG potential than wires and climbers.
- Growing time: Climbing plants can take years to offer full coverage, or may never reach it — resulting in a wall that looks sparse. Viritopia’s soil system enables full plant coverage on the day of installation.
- Long-term resilience: Because wires and climbers typically use one or two climbing species, pests and plant diseases can cause large sections (or the entire wall) to fail. Modular systems allow for a diverse mix of species, reducing the risk of widespread failure.
Impact
A prime model for sustainable logistics solutions
Vanguard Logistics Park demonstrates how green infrastructure can help logistics sites deliver a net positive impact. This development is an example of the “nature parks” we envision delivering around the world, where industry and environment coexist in harmony.
- Net zero carbon
The green walls help capture carbon and support insulation. - Over 100% BNG
A rare achievement for industrial sites. - Top 1% of schemes
Less than 1% of schemes earn BREEAM Outstanding. - 40% reduction in water
This site harvests rainwater for irrigation and other uses.
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Vanguard Logistics Park
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Longmoor, UK
Working with Viritopia was a refreshing experience. They understood what was needed on site to ensure their part ran smoothly. Their flexibility in accommodating our start date made planning easy, and once we gave the go-ahead, everything was ready. Andrew’s organisation kept the installation team focused and efficient, completing the living wall exactly as projected and finished beautifully. Professional, proactive, and a pleasure to deal with, Viritopia made the whole process straightforward.
Patrick Barrett
Construction Director, Benniman Limited
Project gallery
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Updates
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