Building upon the success of a previous sustainable infrastructure project in Skellefteå that was recognised as one of the most sustainable in Sweden, the project team aimed to further enhance their sustainability efforts through the holistic approach of BREEAM Infrastructure certification. The project was carried out as a partnering project, with Skellefteå Municipality as the client, Skanska as the turn-key contractor, and Tyréns as the designer. 

The project faced challenges such as the impact of the Covid pandemic and European conflicts on material costs and availability of sustainable fuels, as well as adapting to the BREEAM Infrastructure framework within a short design phase. The project team overcame these challenges through a partnering approach and quick learning. Some identified measures and designs had to be reconsidered and focused on actions that were most important from a sustainability perspective. 

BREEAM Infrastructure guided the implementation of innovative solutions. The partnering approach facilitated early identification and action planning for sustainability measures. A sustainability action plan was developed to document and monitor progress towards overarching project goals. The TyrImpact tool was used to identify and evaluate resilience risks and dependencies, while SuDs were incorporated to manage flood resilience and impacts from future climates. Cut and fill balance optimization reduced the need for virgin bulk material and transports, with all bulk material being re-used on the project site. Effective waste management led to 100% of waste being diverted from landfill. The project also explored the use of an electric rock crushing plant powered by 100% renewable electricity, a potential battery-powered crushing plant, and the innovative Droneport concept to reduce negative effects from transports. 

The project achieved impressive sustainability metrics, including a 57% reduction in embodied carbon emissions (1,591,000 kgCO2 equivalent), 100% operational renewable energy use (378,600 kWh per year), >90% locally supplied materials, and 100% waste diversion from landfill (42,195 m3). The systematic guidance from BREEAM Infrastructure led to an estimated 3-5% reduction in total project costs and improved documentation and decision-making processes. The holistic approach to sustainability enhanced biodiversity considerations and structured accounting of sustainable efforts. The project team noted that the BREEAM Infrastructure certification process gave them valuable experience and increased their level of skills for environmental issues in heavy construction work.