The East of England Co-op’s innovative and sustainable Travel pod in Brightlingsea has been awarded Gold status by the Carbon Charter.

Located in the car park of the former Fiveways store in Samsons Road – soon to become a Sainsbury’s – the pod is the first of its kind for the retailer. It incorporates a range of  features to minimise carbon impact, including solar power, high spec insulation, air-source heat pumps and an A+ energy performance rating.

The Carbon Charter’s prestigious accreditation recognises organisations leading the way in environmental responsibility, and the retailer’s Brightlingsea Travel pod has been celebrated as a model of sustainable retail infrastructure.

Debbie Wilby, branch manager for Brightlingsea Travel, said: “Our customers are absolutely loving the new space. It’s such a pleasure to come to work now and talk to customers about the solar panels and eco-friendly our new branch is.”