The iCon, a new environmental innovation centre based in Daventry, has been formally opened for business.
Low-carbon experts from around Northamptonshire, a centre of excellence in low-carbon technologies, gathered to celebrate the success of The iCon’s construction and to welcome the centre’s first tenants, which include Demeuria World, a Luxembourg company specialising in luxury sustainable eco wood frame houses. The event included a series of talks and discussions highlighting the UK’s low carbon economy and the role being played by Northamptonshire companies.
Owned and operated by The University of Northampton, The iCon building, which is a landmark structure in Daventry, will be home to up to 55 small and growing businesses specialising in green technologies and the emerging market of sustainable construction. Alongside the office space, the centre will also provide conference facilities, networking space and business support and advice to help its tenants to succeed. The centre will develop a cutting edge business community, driving innovation and development to maintain the county’s position at the forefront of the sector moving forward.
The iCon is itself designed to be an iconic example of low carbon construction. The eye-catching building has been designed to achieve an ‘excellent’ rating from BREEAM, and prior to its opening, won the 2010 Green Apple Award for the Built Environment and a 2009 Milton Keynes-South Midlands Excellence Award. Using renewable energy taken from the air using customised heat pumps and an inflatable ETFE roof, The iCon has also been cleverly designed to support the natural temperature regulation of the building and limit the need for heating or air conditioning. As a result, the building will produce CO2 emissions of only 12.2kg/m2/year.
Tim Bagshaw, Head of Investment at Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership, the body responsible for driving economic development in the county and one of the key partners in the development of The iCon Centre said: “In Northamptonshire, we are committed to supporting and developing low carbon expertise and The iCon is a vital part of this. The county is experiencing the fastest levels of housing and population growth in the UK outside of London and there is a real opportunity for construction to be done in a sustainable way. The iCon is perfectly positioned to support some of the new and growing businesses that will be central to this with business accommodation designed specially with them in mind. The building is testament to the importance of these industries within the county, and the level of commitment Northamptonshire will show to secure their future.”
Luxembourg-based company Demeuria World, which also has a strong presence in France, designs and builds eco hybrid homes has chosen The iCon to launch its UK operations. The company which produces wood framed low emission homes is one of the building’s founding tenants. Demeuria World CEO, Pierre-Louis Coallier, said: “The iCon was an obvious choice when we were looking for our first UK base, being well connected in the centre of the country and offering us close proximity to other likeminded companies. The iCon is going to house an inspiring business community in the sustainable construction industry and we are looking forward to being part of it.”
A consortium of Northants and East Midlands regional partners worked together to fund iCon including the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and the West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC). Daventry District Council and Northamptonshire County Council have donated the land for the project.
For more information on The iCon Environmental Innovation Centre please visit www.icon-innovation.co.uk
