modulek’s first net zero build in operation
a landmark project
Buckinghamshire Council selected Modulek through the LHC Framework to deliver a new visitor café and toilet facility at Black Park. With a focus on maximising value, Modulek applied our proven expertise in value engineering to produce a budget-efficient design — creating a high-quality, modern building that meets all key requirements while ensuring the best possible use of available funds. This commitment to value and performance secured the project via Direct Award.
The result is the new Black Park Visitor Café and Toilet facility — a proud milestone as Modulek’s first net zero building in operation. Thoughtfully positioned within the stunning woodland surroundings, the building offers a bright, modern café space alongside fully accessible public washrooms, designed to blend seamlessly with the natural environment through a contemporary yet sensitive aesthetic.
Delivered on a full turnkey basis — including all RIBA design stages, groundworks, modular construction, and external works — the Black Park Café project showcases Modulek’s unique ability to combine smart value engineering with sustainable, future-ready building solutions.
key details
project overview
duration
10 weeks
completed
2024
project value
£1,000,000
services provided
Delivery
Design
Groundwork
Installation
Off site construction
Paths and Fencing
Service Connections
want a net zero building?
overview
The brief was ambitious: to deliver a high-quality, sustainable building that harmonised with the park’s natural environment while adhering to the council’s wider green agenda. We worked closely with Buckinghamshire Council to design and construct a fully off-site solution that would meet net zero operational standards and be delivered with minimal disruption to the busy country park. The final design combines cutting-edge modular innovation with an impressive suite of sustainable features, including:
- A large Solar PV array on the roof, generating clean electricity to power the building
- Air source electric heat pumps, delivering both space and water heating
- Heat recovery ventilation systems, using heat exchangers to efficiently recycle warmth from outgoing air
- Enhanced insulation with improved U-values, exceeding building regulation standards to minimise heat loss
- Low-energy LED lighting throughout, integrated with PIR movement sensors to reduce energy consumption when not in use
building for the future
This project stands as a demonstration of how modular construction can achieve exceptional sustainability outcomes. Built off site in a controlled environment, 70% of the building process was completed before arriving at Black Park, drastically reducing the time on-site and disruption to the local ecosystem.
Modulek’s ability to combine speed, flexibility, and sustainability meant we could deliver a stunning, functional, and eco-conscious space — all within just 10 weeks on site.
net zero in action
This build embodies the goals set out in our Net Zero Buildings commitment: to help organisations create future-ready spaces that lower emissions and cut running costs — without compromising on design or performance. As our first net zero build in operation, the Black Park Café is a landmark in our journey toward a more sustainable built environment. And it’s only the beginning.
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