Greenbox Darlington joins DEEP to champion the region’s net zero transition

A net zero carbon development has become the latest member of DEEP (Darlington Employers Environmental Partnership) a business network working together to promote sustainability and reduce environmental impact.

Greenbox Darlington, a joint venture between Citivale and Partners Group, was recently completed and has already secured plumbing, heating and infrastructure merchant Wolseley at its first occupier. Two further industrial and logistics units are currently available at the scheme located off Tornado Way next to the A66.

DEEP was established in 2023 to act as a champion for Darlington’s business community in supporting a transition to net zero. Its members range from major employers to local SMEs as well as Darlington Borough Council and Teesside University.

As DEEP’s latest member, Greenbox Darlington was constructed to net zero carbon standards, with each of the three units achieving the highest energy performance ratings. The specification includes 99% recycled steel frames, low-carbon concrete, air source heat pumps and photovoltaic-ready roofs. Unit 1 (215,362 sq ft) and Unit 3 (84,947 sq ft) are ready for immediate occupation.

James Appleton-Metcalfe, CEO at Citivale, said: “Joining DEEP is a natural next step for Greenbox Darlington. We set out to prove that a net zero carbon business park could be commercially credible as well as genuinely sustainable, and DEEP gives us a platform to share what we’ve learned with other businesses while continuing to learn from their achievements. Sustainability only takes big steps forward when it’s a collective effort, and we’re very pleased to be part of that conversation in Darlington.”

Seth Pearson, Director of Darlington Cares, which oversees DEEP, said: “We continue to be delighted by the growth in DEEP’s membership, and welcome Greenbox Darlington as an important addition to the partnership.”

DEEP’s members include organisations such as Amazon, Cummins, Darlington College, Teesside International Airport and Winvic, the multidisciplinary main contractor who delivered Greenbox Darlington on behalf of Citivale. The partnership publishes regular updates on member activity, hosts networking and knowledge-sharing events, and has recently produced a podcast series showcasing sustainability efforts across Darlington.

James Appleton-Metcalfe added: “The regulations that commercial buildings will be judged against in the future are already being written. A building specified to today’s minimum standards, is a building that starts falling behind the moment it’s occupied. Greenbox Darlington was built to a specification for where the market is heading, not where it currently sits.”