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Voco Zeal Exeter Science Park has announced becoming the first hotel in Western Europe to reach the BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating.
The 142-room hotel is also the first branded net zero carbon project for IHG and uses ultra-low carbon construction methods.
The building was delivered to the Passivhaus standard in conjunction with sustainability consultants SCS. It uses advanced building fabric, adiabatic cooling systems, and heat-reversible heat pumps to maintain low energy performance.
The hotel is the first in the UK to use Solarlab vertical photovoltaic panels as a complete rainscreen cladding system. The site is 100% electric and has received several industry accolades, including ‘Green Building Project of the Year’ at the edie Net Zero Awards 2025.
The project was completed by RED Construction Group, which supported the development through the early design phase and the first 12 months of operation.
Tim Wheeldon, founding director of Zeal Hotels, said: “Since the conception of the Voco Zeal Exeter Science Park it has been our ambition to achieve the coveted BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating.
“It is a testament to the hard work of our team and that at RED Construction Group, who have innovated across both construction and operations. Achieving a BREEAM Outstanding rating reflects our long-standing commitment to reducing carbon emissions and helping the hotel sector reach net zero by 2050.”
He added: “By harnessing renewable energy, energy-efficient design and innovative technology, we have created a hotel that delivers both comfort and environmental responsibility. We look forward to sharing our learnings to help accelerate sustainability across the wider hospitality sector.”
