The Launchpad
‘The Launchpad’ is a new three storey innovative business hub which was built upon a vacant greenfield site, one that was once home to Westcliff’s Rugby Clubs rugby pitch. The Launchpad is the first building you see as you enter the business park and is part of many new developments at Southend Airport’s business park.
Key Stats
- Three-storey concrete frame building on an existing greenfield site
- Designed to achieve BREEAM Outstanding
- CCS 44/45
- Constructed within close proximity to Southend Airport
- CarboniCa utilised on the project.
- 100% Timber sourced responsibly
At a Glance
Budget
£9.4 million
Completion
October 2022
Location
Southend-On-Sea
Framework
N/A
Sector
Commercial (Office Buildings)
Social value
£8.8 million
Sustainability
97% Waste Diverted from Landfill
About The Launchpad
The three-storey building was constructed using both concrete and steel frame elements. Amassing approximately 2,300m2 of office and workshop spaces, the facility also includes: a workplace nucleus, individual office spaces, conference and meeting suites, research facilities, a café, external seating, and collaboration areas.
Designed by Architects BDP and with funding secured through the South East Local Enterprise Partnership Local Growth Fund (SELEP), the project fulfils Southend on Seas’ vision to create a sustainable high-class facility that would provide office space and support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Southend-on-Sea.
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Sustainable approach at the heart of the project
The previous space was predominantly green and was formerly a rugby field. However, the space in isolation did not provide many benefits to the ecosystem. Therefore, the Council were keen to ensure that the vacant space would not only serve a wider purpose for the surrounding area but would also be sustainable.
The Launchpad has a green roof, permeable pavement, and large swales. The green roof is covered in Sedum which is a large genus plant that possesses a number of benefits including: regulating the indoor temperature, providing a buffer for rainwater helping purify the air and providing a microclimate for insects and birds.
It was important that the new building would formulate part of the landscape rather than just fit into the area. The building is therefore surrounded by greenery to again, promote a habitat for wildlife and provide an aesthetic that encourages those within the facility to interact more with the outdoor space.
The project uses CarboniCa (our carbon calculator), one of our Intelligent Solutions. It has been designed to achieve BREEAM Outstanding accreditation; the highest rating possible. This was made possible through a number of features such as ensuring the building was fully electric and the inclusion of PV panels on the roof.
Preventative measures in place due to flood risk area
Southend-on-Sea is a coastal town meaning it is within close proximity to the sea. However, the town is susceptible to floods due to sea level rises, which this site had previously been impacted by. Therefore, part of the scope of works included a Swale Drainage System. Swales are usually a shallow ditch which allows the rainfall from the building and from the surrounding landscape to drain into this ditch. It is then held there and then released slowly into the river system so that it prevents any flooding. In addition, none of this flows down the drain negating any overloading with just rainwater which again reduces the risk of flooding.
Generating over £8.8m Social Value
The Launchpad generated a 93.6% return on its project value in social value; creating employment opportunities for five people who had previously been unemployed and also provided an opportunity for one work placement student. This young student from South Essex College was made aware of Morgan Sindall through a careers talk we had carried out at their college. The student went on to complete their work experience on this project before joining Morgan Sindall as an apprentice Site Manager in September 2022.
Nine students visited the site from SECTA Construction Academies in Southend to see how the site was progressing. The students were then given the opportunity to learn more about careers in constructions and the many routes into construction.
We are delighted to see such an important project for Southend and the airport come to fruition. Creating purpose-built space for businesses such as the Launchpad is exactly the kind of endeavour intended for the local growth fund. This project serves to highlight the significance of Southend Airport as an asset for the local economy, supporting south Essex supply chains and providing our communities with new job opportunities” - Chris Brodie, chair of the Southeast Local Enterprise Partnership
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