“Honfleur The Style Outlets” developed by MAB Development in partnership with NEINVER has been awarded a “NF Bâtiments Tertiaires – Démarche HQE®” certification (retail sector) at the programming phase of the project. It is the first outlet centre in France to obtain this certification.

The Honfleur project is completely integrated to its environment. It achieves high environmental standards thanks to the use of natural hardware in its construction, rainwater management systems, a design that limits energy consumption, and the creation of vegetal biodiversity on the premises. “Everything has been implemented to include the concept of sustainability right from initial stages to the centre’s full operational activity”, says Marc Vaquier, Managing Director of MAB Development France.

This certification validates an initial assessment phase taking into account 14 different criteria that were given a performance rating: Basic, High Performance and Very High Performance. The “NF Bâtiments Tertiaires – Démarche HQE” label certifies attainment of a Very High Performance level for at least three environmental targets and a High Performance level for at least four targets.

“Honfleur Style Outlets” has achieved a Very High Performance level for four environmental targets and a High Performance level for six other targets.

The “NF Bâtiments Tertiaires – Démarche HQE” label concerns the eco-construction, eco-management, comfort and health performances of a construction project. It singles out buildings whose environmental performances are aligned with the best existing practices. This certification is issued after different audits and concerns the programming, design and construction phases.

Once completed in 2012, “Honfleur The Style Outlets” will meet the requirements of the town of Honfleur, the department of Calvados and the Basse-Normandie region regarding economic development, tourism, commercial offer and environmental conservation.

Certified companies This certification is not the only one received by MAB and NEINVER. Both companies have obtained recognition before for their centers’ sustainability. In October 2009, MAB Development had already obtained this certification for its retail project “Grand Arena” in Bordeaux Floirac, demonstrating our will to apply the global approach for sustainable development in each one of our projects in France. Furthermore, NEINVER has already obtained for the first time in Spain the BREAAM Europe for FACTORY La Coruña outlet project by the prestigious BRE Global Ltd because of sustainable design with the environment and also with the centre users.

The project’s partners MAB Development, one of the leading European property developers specialized in commercial Real Estate and multifunctional inner-city projects, carries the responsibility for development and project management of the outlet centre.

NEINVER, Europe’s second largest factory outlet operator, is in charge of leasing operations management and will be operator of this project, bringing together around one hundred brand shops and services, selling a mid-to-high end offer all year round at prices at least 30% lower than those of traditional distribution channels.

Edouard François, urban planner and architect, is renowned and recognized for his architectural and landscaping work, as well as for his environmental commitment.

Source : http://www.mab.com, 10.09.2010