Cranfield Airpark
Preparing for renewable takeoff with MEP
- Client: Cranfield University
- Location: Cranfield, Bedfordshire
About this Project
MEP Concepts was appointed to prepare an Energy Strategy and Sustainability Appraisal for Cranfield Airpark, supporting a planning application made to Central Bedfordshire Council.
Cranfield University, Europe’s only university with an associated airport, is a world leader in aviation research and technology. The planned extension to the existing airpark facilities proposes five new hangers, a Fixed Operator Base terminal building and a 300 bed hotel, as well as new offices and a biomass energy centre.
MEP Concepts has significant experience in undertaking sustainability appraises for new infrastructure. Our team analysed the potential sustainability issues which could arise during both construction and operation, resulting in the development of a strategy to reduce potential impacts, including good practice measures in the design, construction and operation of the facilities.
Thermal modelling was undertaken for each building, to explore opportunities to reduce solar gain and to save energy from mechanical building systems.
A proposed new 500kw biomass energy centre will generate heating and hot water for the site, complementing the existing biomass energy centre and CHP already in place. MEP Concepts concept design of the new energy centre was critical for informing parameters of the planning application such as the landscape and visual assessment, transport and air quality assessments.
Project Stats
500kW Biomass
Energy Centre
300 Bed Hotel –
District heating link
