The Enterprise Centre – to be built on the Norwich Research Park at the University of East Anglia (UEA) with innovative use of natural materials and the most advanced approaches to low carbon – is set to be a major stimulus to the region’s economy and to the UK low carbon sector.

The centre aims to bring together teaching and learning facilities with work spaces for local companies. It will also house an early-stage incubator for start-up businesses to provide opportunities for UEA graduates and encourage staff on the research park to start their own businesses.

Morgan Sindall has been granted planning to construct the UK’s greenest commercial building for the University of East Anglia.

The £8m trail-blazing Norwich Research Park Enterprise Centre is set to be the first commercial scheme to achieve both Passivhaus and Breeam Outstanding ratings. As well as heightened energy performance, the centre will be as low in embodied carbon as possible by using natural materials, transported very short distances to the site.

The 21st century ‘almost nil carbon building’ will be built using a timber and glulam frame fitted with prefabricated straw and reed cladding panels. Sustainable low carbon features include mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, triple-glazed windows, photovoltaic panels and solar heating. Construction will start this summer and the centre will open in Spring 2015.