The £5m start-up business centre is the latest flagship initiative by Rotherham Investment & Development Office (RiDO), the council’s regeneration arm.

Situated next to Magna Science and Adventure Centre on the site of the former Templeborough Rolling Mill, the development will have ‘living walls’, created by steel trelliswork with climbing plants, and a green roof.

 RiDO’s business development manager Tim O’Connell said: “Although this concept is fairly widespread in Europe, it’s still quite new in the UK. We set the pace with our environmental approach at Moorgate Crofts Business Centre and are now taking this to the next level.

“The façade greening, roof and additional landscaping will help to reduce the energy loss of the building and the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. It also means there’s an opportunity to collect and reuse rainwater.”

The green technology provides protection from ultra-violet radiation and insulation from temperature extremes, improving durability and reducing the centre’s running costs.

The 2,500 sq m centre will be built by the council’s strategic construction partner, Rotherham Construction partnership.
 
Building work starts next month and the centre is due to open in April 2008.