Fontwell plan for Greenpower group

Greenpower, which is currently based on the Harwood Industrial Estate in Littlehampton, has been offered a site on land belonging to Fordingbridge Plc, a company which has been a strong supporter of Greenpower's work.

The organisation, which is supported by various government schemes, was established ten years ago by Sussex Enterprise. It focuses on sustainable engineering by getting schoolchildren to enter its competition to build electric-powered cars which are then raced at Goodwood Motor Circuit.

Greenpower says it has outgrown its current site, and is now looking to create a building which is in keeping with its principles. It wants to create a 100 per cent energy-efficient office, using some of the most eco-friendly materials around.

Emma Tyler of Greenpower said that it was an exciting opportunity and hoped that the plans would receive a positive reaction.

"A lot of what we do with the pupils is about sustainable transport and energy management so we felt that with the new office we should continue with that.

"We want a building that makes a statement about what we are about. Most of our business is sponsored, so it would really help us if we had a base where sponsors can see what we do. It also helps us with schools and teachers are able to come along and talk to us and see what we do.

"The aim is to make it as carbon-neutral as possible '“ we are trying to promote this with the pupils we work with.

"Fordingbridge Plc have been involved with Greenpower since the beginning. They are very supportive of what we are doing with schools and so I suppose it was a natural step for them to offer us this site.

"We hope that it is going to be a good addition to the area so we can carry on promoting what we are doing."

Fordingbridge, which creates curved roof structures, was given permission by Arun District Council to build prototype structures on the site next to the A27, but has decided to offer the site to Greenpower free of charge, on a 21-year lease.

Greenpower has selected architects who specialise in creating eco-friendly buildings and wants its new offices to include features such as solar panels and good insulation. It wants to demolish an existing steel structure and replace it with a low-carbon building of the same size, set further back into the site. It would include a car park and footpath areas.