High Leigh Conference Centre: Delivering a Low-Carbon M&E Strategy
High Leigh Conference Centre is an events venue providing a range of meeting, conference and hospitality facilities within a landscaped setting.
As part of significant investment in the site, BTP Consultants were appointed to provide M&E and Sustainability Consultancy services for the redevelopment and extension of the facilities.
The project presented an opportunity to modernise the building services infrastructure while improving energy performance and creating a flexible, comfortable environment capable of accommodating a wide range of events.
A new approach to heating and cooling
One of the key elements of the M&E strategy was the transition away from traditional fossil-fuel heating.
The existing gas boiler-based heating strategy was replaced with heat pump technology, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and providing a more efficient approach to heating and cooling the building.
The system was designed alongside the wider energy strategy to ensure that the building's electrical infrastructure could accommodate the increased demand.
This required consideration of the building's anticipated load profile and the interaction between heating, cooling and other electrical systems.
Integrating renewable energy and storage
The project incorporates PV generation and energy storage. The PV installation provides on-site renewable electricity generation, while battery storage allows energy to be managed more effectively and supports the building's wider electrical strategy.
This integrated approach helps maximise the value of on-site renewable generation while reducing reliance on the grid during periods of higher demand.
Creating a comfortable environment
High Leigh's facilities need to accommodate a variety of uses, from smaller meetings through to larger conferences and events.
The building services strategy incorporates displacement ventilation with CO₂ monitoring and control, allowing ventilation rates to respond to occupancy and indoor air quality requirements.
Heat recovery was also incorporated to improve the efficiency of the ventilation system.
The combination of demand-controlled ventilation and heat recovery helps maintain comfortable internal conditions while avoiding unnecessary energy consumption when spaces are lightly occupied.
Designing for flexibility
One of the challenges of an events and conference venue is that occupancy can vary significantly.
The M&E strategy therefore needed to respond to changing occupancy while maintaining appropriate levels of comfort and indoor air quality.
Controls and zoning were incorporated to allow building systems to respond to these changing requirements rather than operating continuously at maximum capacity.
This approach supports both the operational flexibility of the venue and its overall energy performance.
An integrated M&E strategy
The High Leigh project demonstrates the importance of considering building services as an integrated system.
Heating, cooling, ventilation, electrical infrastructure, PV generation, battery storage and controls all influence one another.
By considering these systems together from the outset, the project was able to develop an M&E strategy that supports the building's operational requirements while also addressing its long-term energy performance.
For modern commercial and hospitality buildings, the challenge is no longer simply providing heating, cooling and ventilation.
It is about developing systems that are efficient, adaptable and capable of supporting the building's future energy requirements.
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