Climate Consultancy Moving Global HQ to Arbor

Climate consultancy the Carbon Trust is moving its global headquarters to Arbor at Bankside Yards, part of Native Land’s 1.4 million-square-foot riverside mixed-use development.

Native Land has exchanged contracts with the Carbon Trust for 13,800 square feet of offices on a 10-year lease at level five of Arbor.

The Carbon Trust will move into the building when it opens in March 2023, joining law firm Lewis Silkin, which pre-leased the sixth and seventh floors in December 2021.

The Carbon Trust advises businesses, governments and financial institutions worldwide targeting net zero operations. The move allows the Carbon Trust to support its own decarbonisation goals while remaining in the SE1 postcode, the parties said.

Bankside Yards is the UK’s first fossil fuel-free major mixed-use development in operation. All its electrical power will come from fully renewable sources, and will feature a pioneering fifth-generation energy sharing network. It will deliver reductions in energy use and mean the site is net-zero carbon in operation.

Arbor is a “smart” building with the potential for its own digital twin, a 3-D replica of the building which provides real time analysis to monitor and improve its efficiency. Lewis Silkin, the Carbon Trust and other future tenants will work with technology provider Smart Spaces to optimise how they operate their office and connect into the building’s infrastructure.

Jay Squier, director – commercial and mixed use, at Native Land said in a statement: “The strong alignment between Bankside Yards’ sustainability credentials and the Carbon Trust’s decarbonisation agenda, as well as the building’s unique design attributes, connectivity and quality, made Arbor the natural choice among competing locations for the Trust’s new global headquarters. We will be working in a true landlord and tenant partnership to deliver optimal sustainability management at Arbor.”

Timon Drakesmith, chief financial officer, at the Carbon Trust, added: “We have selected Arbor as our new home based on its strong environmental credentials, excellent location and great amenities. It also offers the only all-electric site of this type, in our desired area. We believe our employees and stakeholders will enjoy working in this exciting new development. We look forward to working with Native Land to support them as they further enhance the sustainability of the estate.”

Arbor is the first building to complete at Bankside Yards, a 5.5-acre development with eight new buildings, biodiverse public realm and the restoration of 14 Victorian railway arches which will be made publicly accessible for the first time in 150 years. Once complete, Bankside Yards will host workspaces, homes, shops and restaurants, an LGBTQ+ cultural space and a 5 starhotel.

At 19 storeys and 223,000 square feet, Arbor will provide workspace targeting media, technology, and professional services in Bankside and SE1.

Knight Frank and Ingleby Trice are letting agents for Arbor and Cushman & Wakefield acted for the Carbon Trust.