Bond Courts, Leeds
MEP Condition Survery and EPC Rating Improvement Report with staged plan for B rating by 2030 Discuss your project
With looming EPC legislation tightening around energy performance in commercial buildings, the owner of a prominent, multi-tenanted office building in Leeds sought expert guidance to navigate the evolving compliance landscape.
SEA Consulting was appointed to conduct a comprehensive MEP condition survey, coupled with a forward-looking EPC Rating Improvement Report.
Key objectives included:
- Understanding the current state of the existing building services.
- Developing a clear, cost-effective roadmap to meet future EPC requirements (minimum Band B by 2030).
- Minimising disruption to tenants with upcoming lease expirations.
Initial Findings
Our survey revealed that the building’s services were based on a traditional 4-pipe fan coil system, with a D-rated EPC certificate. However, under revised 2022 regulations, this would now fall to an E rating. Although still compliant under current MEES regulations, is was significantly off the 2030 target.
Critical observations included:
- 61% of the building’s carbon emissions were linked to heating—primarily due to an aging gas boiler.
- Much of the MEP infrastructure was nearing the end of its economic life.
- Distribution pipework was leaking and in need of major repair or replacement.
The Strategy
Using thermal modelling to assess the options. SEA Consulting proposed two viable upgrade strategies obtain a ‘B’ EPC rating:
Option 1: Retain the 4-pipe fan coil system, repair pipework, replace the gas boiler with a high-temperature air source heat pump, and plan upgrades to the terminal units and chillers.
Option 2: Replace the 4-pipe fan coils with VRF Air conditioning system, on a floor-by-floor basis as they become available over the next 3-5 years, allowing the existing system to continually used until tenants could be relocated to newly refurbished floors as part of their lease renewals.
Additional enhancements factored into both options:
- LED lighting upgrades throughout the building.
- Refurbishment of the existing Air Handling Unit.
The Outcome
Following careful considerations and price analysis, Option 2 emerged as the superior solution. This saved them over £1.1 million in capital expenditure and reduced the building running costs by 38%, versus 24% less if they had chosen option 1.
This allowed the owners to position the building to co comfortably meet or exceed the 2030 EPC Band B target. The phased installation mitigated tenant disruption and allowed new refurbished floors and lower running cost to be used as a incentive to sign new leases.
Bond Court, Leeds - Project Highlights
Project Cost Saving
Saved our client £1,169,950 in refurbishment cost by replacing existing MEP services.
Reduction in Running Costs
38% reduction in running costs by using more efficient building services.
Minimal Impact to Tenants
Individual plans created around each lease, minimising disruption to tenants.
