UKs First Carbon Net-Zero Restaurant
The Challenge
McDonald’s in Market Drayton, Shropshire, has become the UK's first carbon net-zero restaurant and the first net-zero building using Algeco's offsite construction system. Algeco was an integral part of the project delivery team, utilising its modular solution, which features a large number of incremental improvements that combine to make a huge difference in overall performance.
Minimising environmental impact and achieving a net-zero build were key requirements set out by McDonald’s at the very start of the project.
The innovative turnkey solution includes kitchen, servery, offices, storage, dining area and toilets, as well as car park and external landscaping works.
Our Solution
The net-zero McDonald’s restaurant was 80% completed in Algeco’s factory before being transported to site, minimising waste and maximising quality control, efficiency and speed of construction.
As part of a sustainable approach, the building utilises responsibly-sourced and recycled materials throughout, further reducing its environmental impact.
The restaurant at Market Drayton is designed to allow relocation, reconfiguration or recycling, depending on McDonald’s future requirements. All Algeco offsite modules are designed to have a service life of at least 60 years.
Building modules for the restaurant were constructed using a recyclable steel-framed system, with material sourced from a UK supplier with certified Environmental Policy Declarations.
Sustainable features within the building include sheep's wool insulation instead of fibreglass, cladding, ceiling, floor and wall tiles made from recycled plastic, a rainwater harvesting system, wind turbine electricity generation and photovoltaic car park lighting complete with battery backup. The kitchen incorporates a heat exchange that feeds into the dining area.
The lightweight structure of Algeco’s steel frame modules minimised carbon intensive foundations, which were completed at the same time as the modules were manufactured, helping to reduce the build schedule by around half compared to an on-site build.
The Results
Being net-zero means that the wind turbine and solar panel-powered McDonald’s restaurant will produce as much energy as it uses over the course of a year and there are only a small number of highly efficient buildings in the UK that currently meet this criterion.
The Market Drayton site is the first restaurant in the UK to be verified as net zero emissions for construction using the UK Green Building Council's (UKGBC's) net zero carbon buildings framework.
During COP26, countries were asked to come forward with ambitious 2030 emissions reductions targets that align with reaching net zero by the middle of the century. The fact that Algeco’s modular restaurant for McDonald’s Market Drayton achieves this provides architects and developers with a way of achieving this ambitious target now.
According to the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC), the built environment is directly responsible for 25% of the total UK carbon footprint, and therefore creating a net-zero carbon build plays a critical role in transitioning to a low carbon economy.
