Birmingham City Council has won a BREEAM sustainability award for its work promoting planning policies that require buildings to meet high energy efficiency and low-emissions standards.
BREEAM's prestigious award celebrates global city leaders building resilient and future-ready urban places. The council's submission highlighted the high number of BREEAM Outstanding and Excellent-rated buildings constructed in Birmingham, including the Library of Birmingham, the BBC Tea Factory, and the Paradise development.
Council commitment to sustainable building
Cllr Julien Pritchard, deputy leader of Birmingham City Council, said: "This is fantastic news and really underpins the excellent work being done across the city. Setting ambitious sustainable planning policies is a bold step, but it is the right thing to do; we must continue to deliver more energy-efficient, high-quality developments."
"This award is deserved recognition of Birmingham's commitment to sustainability in the built environment and the progress we are making as a city," he added.
Library of Birmingham leads by example
The award also recognised the council's commitment to promoting high energy standards in public buildings. The Library of Birmingham, which achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating, has prioritised energy efficiency throughout its operation and supports the conservation of nationally important archive collections including Shakespeare's First Folio.
Although 13 years old, the Library of Birmingham has recently been recognised by government surveyors as a UK exemplar in efficient energy use among public buildings.
The award reflects the council's work to introduce ambitious policies and close collaboration with developers to support quality work.
