Salford’s Eden building has won the ESG award at the British Council for Offices (BCO) National Awards, celebrating the UK’s most sustainable workplaces.
The landmark office, part of the New Bailey regeneration project, was recognised for its cutting-edge green design and its role in shaping new industry standards for sustainable construction.
Developed by the English Cities Fund (ECF), Eden is the UK’s first commercial office to achieve a 5.5-star NABERS UK “Design Reviewed” rating.
Its 3,300m² living wall – the largest in Europe – enhances biodiversity, improves air quality and helps cool the surrounding area.
A spokesperson for ECF said: “Eden shows what’s possible when sustainability drives design from the very beginning. This award recognises not just a building, but a commitment to creating healthier, greener and more productive workplaces.”
Eden’s 100% electric energy system, smart ventilation and air-source heat pumps deliver industry-leading energy efficiency at 43.8 kWh/m² per year. The building has achieved BREEAM Outstanding and EPC A ratings. Designed as part of the LETI Pioneer project, Eden has also influenced new BCO guidance for sustainable buildings.
Mike Burton, chair of the BCO National Awards judging panel, said: “This year’s judging process revealed a notable shift in how we define excellence in the workplace. The 2025 winners show how the UK’s office sector is leading the way in creating spaces that are not just high-performing and sustainable, but deeply human. The winning projects prove that offices can be catalysts for wellbeing, creativity and urban renewal.”
The building’s living wall improves air quality, helps reduce urban heat and increases biodiversity with a 174 per cent net gain across more than 32 plant species. The development’s design has made it a benchmark for low-carbon construction and wellbeing-focused workplaces.
Eden was built by Bowmer & Kirkland, with Cundall acting as sustainability consultant. It represents a major step in Salford’s growing reputation for innovation and green urban regeneration.
At the national ceremony in London, the BCO celebrated buildings that “raise the bar” for sustainability and customer experience. Other winners included Unusual HQ in Northamptonshire, which took home the Best of the Best and Corporate Workplace awards, and the Edinburgh Futures Institute, which won Innovation of the Year for transforming a Victorian infirmary into a modern workspace.
Samantha McClary, chief executive of the BCO, added: “The BCO Awards are a celebration of bold thinking and brilliant execution. What stands out this year is the sheer diversity of innovation taking place, from circular economy construction and biophilic design to inclusive, neurodiverse environments and flexible leasing models. These workplaces, and the people who create and curate them – reflect a sector that’s listening, learning and leading the way in meeting future challenges and opportunities head-on. The BCO is proud to champion this evolution and the people driving it.”
Ken Shuttleworth, founder of Make Architects, received the prestigious President’s Award for his contribution to the real estate industry.
Helen Hare, president of the BCO, said: “Ken’s philosophy is not just about the architecture of an individual building. It is about creating a place one that must have a heart. Ken has genuinely made a difference to our industry.”
The BCO event drew more than 1,200 senior figures from across the property sector, highlighting how projects like Eden Salford, with its ESG award win, are redefining what sustainable, people-centred workplaces can achieve.
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