We’re proud to announce that Soapworks has officially achieved an EPC A rating — the highest possible grade for energy performance. This is a major milestone for us and one that’s even more impressive given the building’s industrial heritage.

From Colgate to Cutting-Edge

Originally built as the Colgate-Palmolive factory, Soapworks retains much of its original concrete frame, giving it a strong industrial character. While this makes for a visually striking and robust workspace, it also posed a real challenge when it came to improving energy efficiency.

Achieving an EPC A with this kind of existing structure is no small feat — and it reflects our serious commitment to long-term sustainability and innovation.

What Made It Possible?

To hit this high standard, we undertook a series of major green upgrades across the site since the last EPC was carried out:

☀️ Solar Panel Installation

Our rooftop now hosts 776 solar panels, helping to generate clean, renewable energy right on site. This significantly reduces our reliance on grid power and cuts down our carbon footprint.

At full capacity, the solar system is expected to prevent 58,467 KG Carbon from being released per year That’s equivalent to one and a half months of the full scheme’s annual usage, or the same as planting 5,000 trees.

💡 Full LED Lighting Upgrade

We’re almost finished with the programme to upgrade all lighting to energy-efficient LED technology, drastically reducing electricity usage and enhancing lighting quality across all shared and private areas.

⚡ New EV Charging Bays

We’ve also added dedicated EV charging bays to make green travel more convenient for our tenants and visitors. Encouraging the use of electric vehicles is a key step in reducing overall site emissions.

Why It Matters

Reaching an EPC A rating is a huge win for any building — but achieving it in a repurposed industrial site with an original concrete structure makes this all the more impressive.

It’s a powerful demonstration of how sustainability and heritage can go hand in hand, and how older buildings can be adapted for a greener future without compromising their character.