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Landmark low-carbon retirement community officially opens in West Byfleet

Residents, neighbours and members of the wider West Byfleet community gathered to celebrate the official opening of Botanical Place, marking a major milestone for both Retirement Villages Group (RVG) and the town’s ongoing regeneration.

A place to live, connect and thrive

Located in the heart of West Byfleet and designed by PRP Architects, Botanical Place forms part of RVG’s Thrive Living collection and sets a new benchmark for later living in the industry. Transforming a long-vacant 1990s office building into a vibrant mixed-use destination, the development demonstrates how retirement living can enhance both residents’ lives and the wider community.

The scheme comprises 197 one- and two-bedroom apartments alongside an extensive range of shared amenities, including a restaurant, wellness facilities and social spaces. Spectacular roof gardens provide residents with peaceful retreats and panoramic views towards the Surrey Hills, while a vibrant public square and retail offering create opportunities for connection and activity at the heart of West Byfleet.

By seamlessly integrating homes, amenities and public spaces, Botanical Place creates an environment where residents can live independently while remaining connected to the local community.

Low carbon by design

Aligning with our client’s long-term aspirations to promote healthier independent living, reduce pressure on health and social care services, and deliver against ambitious ESG commitments, we developed a whole-life carbon strategy in accordance with the UK Green Building Council’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework.

Retaining and refurbishing elements of the existing building significantly reduced embodied carbon compared with a new-build solution, while careful material selection achieved further reductions to embodied carbon emissions. Low carbon principles were embedded throughout the design, with an all-electric energy strategy, enhanced façade performance and triple glazing helping to minimise operational energy demand.

The development is further supported by rooftop photovoltaic panels generating almost 50,000 kWh of renewable electricity annually, while the retail spaces have achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating. Together, these measures demonstrate how sustainable engineering can support both environmental objectives and the creation of vibrant communities where residents can live independently and thrive.

A multidisciplinary contribution

We provided MEP, vertical transportation, fire engineering, sustainability, specialist lighting, security, façade access, acoustics and air quality consultancy services.

Botanical Place demonstrates how thoughtful design, sustainable engineering and community-focused placemaking can come together to transform underused assets into thriving destinations that deliver lasting value for residents, local communities and the environment.