E3 helps GPs go green with trailblazing surgery

The multi-award-winning Foleshill Health Centre in Coventry includes solar power, hi-tech sensors to monitor performance and usage, triple glazing, air source heat recovery pumps, energy-efficient LED lighting and is highly insulated.

With an EPC A rating (12), close to net zero CO2 with very low energy use, it is the first health building in the UK to gain exacting Passivhaus certification for low energy design.

The £3.3m health centre is a partnership between Community Health Partnerships (CHP), NHS Coventry & Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Foleshill Surgery, which is part of Coventry and Rugby GP Alliance.

E³ Consulting undertook capital allowances analysis of the project to identify qualifying expenditure under government-approved tax relief.

Alun Oliver FRICS, Managing Director of E³ Consulting, said: “This innovative health centre really does set the standard for energy efficiency in the UK.

“Our role was to ensure it was also as tax efficient as possible to ensure the investment was seen to be financially sound, creating a truly ground-breaking building with unparalleled green credentials and utilising Modern Methods of Construction (MMC).

“We were able to identify over 35 per cent of the expenditure as eligible for tax relief through the ‘main’ plant & machinery allowances (plant & integral features), although we had to net off a significant Section 106 contribution. 

The residue of the build cost also qualified for tax relief from the more recently created Structures & Buildings Allowances.

“It was a pleasure to work with CHP on this exceptional project, which shows that properties can be designed, built and managed in a highly sustainable and efficient way.”

The 619 sq m Foleshill Health Centre serves up to 10,000 patients in central Coventry and was built by modular build experts Portakabin.

As well as Passivhaus Classic certification – based on low energy use for heating and cooling – it is built to meet the ‘excellent’ rating under the Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) for sustainability. Its insulation exceeds building regulations by about 40%.

Eugene Prinsloo, Developments Director at CHP, said: “E³ Consulting has played a valuable role in ensuring we have been able to provide a spacious, welcoming and high-quality primary care facility that will meet the needs of the community for years to come as well as support staff wellbeing too.

“It is an example for the rest of the NHS to follow as a key step in delivering on the NHS commitment to Net Zero Carbon.”

Foleshill Health Centre has won several awards this autumn, including best New Build Project of the Year at the HealthCare Estates IHEEM Awards, the Sustainability Award at the CABE Built Environment Awards and the Best Carbon Reduction Initiative at the recent Building Better Healthcare 2021 Awards.

Community Health Partnerships (CHP) is owned by the Department of Health and Social Care and are experts in primary and community care infrastructure. 

CHP work with a range of partners for the benefit of patients, service users, and their carers. 

Since 2013, CHP has been head tenant in 309 health and wellbeing buildings across England – 5% of the NHS property portfolio.  CHP own and manage Foleshill Health Centre.

E³ Consulting has offices in Bournemouth, Southampton and London. It provides specialist property tax advice to owners, investors and occupiers throughout the UK real estate.