Work has commenced on the construction of the environmentally responsible Village at Easter's 85-acre Butterfield business and technology park in Luton.
A team from Verry Construction began digging the foundations on 13th February 2006 and is scheduled to complete the construction of The Village by February 2007.
The Village will provide high quality offices ranging in size from 1,600 to 20,000 sq ft as well as a central facilities building which will offer on-site management services, security and a food offer from day one.
Butterfield's environmentally responsible design aims not only to give occupiers huge energy savings, but also to offer the highest quality working environment both internally and externally. The Village will boast the first office buildings in the UK to incorporate an innovative passive heating and cooling ventilation system using earth ducts.
Colin Chick, corporate director of environment and regeneration at Luton Borough Council remarks: "The advent of Butterfield will help Luton towards its ambition of becoming a high technology centre, capable of attracting international attention and acting as a magnet for inward investment. The fact that it is a parkland setting, providing enhanced bio-diversity with buildings designed to the highest levels of sustainability sets new standards in technology centre provision."
Mike Forster, development director at Easter Group, comments: "In recent months, major companies have moved to Luton from London to take advantage of the cheaper overhead costs and the excellent transportation network. New high quality business accommodation is running out in the area and we expect Butterfield to attract leading R&D and office occupiers."