Architect Broadway Malyan has defended its proposed design for the £60m Meteorological Office headquarters from criticism by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment.
CABE's review said the design did not live up to the design brief's challenge of providing an innovative, environmentally sound, building.

It added: "[The design is] lacking in ambition in its architecture and in its approach to environmental matters." Steve Bragg, a director of Broadway Malyan, said: "The independent BRE has awarded the proposal nine out of 10 in terms of environmental performance. The flexible space provided will create a living and interacting community while the architecture will express the science of the Met Office." The Met Office is set to make a final design decision next month. Alsop Architects has put in rival bid for the Met Office scheme.