Our Wessex Water workspace
Located in Bath, our operations centre provides a workspace for hundreds of our dedicated employees.
Many of the key teams involved in running our business and helping to provide a leading service to our customers are based here. These include departments such as operations, engineering and sustainable development as well as support services such as our people team, all working together to provide the best service for our customers.
In addition to our operations centre, we also have a number of satellite offices and sites across our region operated by Wessex Water employees.
A sustainable workspace
Architects Bennetts Associates were commissioned to design a unique building that met our strong commitment to energy conservation and sustainability.
We wanted to design a building that:
- improved our operating efficiency
- created an excellent working environment that encourages teamwork and informality
- demonstrated leading-edge sustainable development that minimises energy use, maximises recycling and encourages sustainable transport solutions
- used new technology to improve communications and reduce paper and storage.
The design
The design for the operations centre started in January 1998 and planning permission was then secured in February 1999 when work began on site. Building started three months later and was completed on time in July 2000.
Built on the outskirts of Bath, on the site of a former hospital for infectious diseases, the building was hailed at the time of completion as one of the greenest offices in Europe.
Key features
Recycled material was used during construction and excavated rock was used elsewhere on site. As much as 75% construction waste was reused.
Key features of the building include:
- natural ventilation
- lighting controlled by movement
- solar power for water heating
- the collection of rainwater for flushing lavatories.
A green transport plan for the building promotes public transport while a bespoke bus service, equipped with cycle racks, takes staff to work from the city centre and a nearby park and ride facility.
Awards
Our operations centre beat 38 buildings around the world to win the prestigious Building of the Year award from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors in 2001.
Additional awards won by our operations centre include:
- BREEAM ‘Excellent’ Environmental Assessment
- Civic Trust Award
- RICS Low Energy Award
- RICS Building of the Year
- British Construction Industry Award for Building of the Year
- RIBA Award.
How to find us
You can find our operations centre on the south side of Bath.
Operations centre
Claverton Down Road
Claverton Down
Bath
BA2 7WW
By bus:
We offer a free bus service that travels from Bath City Centre to our operation centre - principal bus stops are detailed in the map above. Please view our bus timetable to see the additional stops. This service is only for staff and visitors to our operations centre.
By train:
We are a 10 minute taxi ride from Bath Spa train station. A free bus service runs from a bus stop near the station, at Dorchester Street.
By bike:
Cyclists and motorcyclists can store their bikes securely at the operations centre and use the changing rooms (including showers). Our buses also have cycle racks if you can't face a steep uphill ride to Claverton Down.
By car:
Parking spaces are limited at the operations centre. If you are travelling by car, please ensure that your host has arranged a space for you.
The headquarters for Wessex Water in Bath achieved the highest ever BREEAM rating for a commercial office building at that time (2001) and became a national benchmark for sustainability in the early 2000s.