STRESS and work may go hand in hand for many people.

Each week, in offices up and down the country, staff furiously jab at keyboards as they try to meet tight deadlines in a desperate bid to make it through to Friday night.

But one workspace is looking to buck this trend and has turned to some unorthodox methods to help people working there to calm down.

Plus X Brighton, an “innovation hub” in Lewes Road, Brighton, which aims to open in March, is bidding to become the first building in the city to be accredited with the platinum standard by the Well Building Institute.

This is a global ranking which looks to ensure buildings are “healthier for all”.

To help the new development meet the institute’s strict criteria for a platinum building, the site has been designed with a complete focus on the “health and wellness of future occupants”.

Air quality will be monitored and altered if the levels of dust and carbon dioxide do not meet the Well standards and staff working in the building will be offered yoga sessions by Brighton’s Namaste Yoga twice a week.

There is also an event space in the building which will host regular staff and community celebrations and occasions, offering a 50 per cent discount to charities based nearby which want to use the area.

Olga Hopton, managing director of Plus X Brighton, said: “We are delighted to be the first building in the region on track to win this global accreditation which has some tough criteria.

“We quite literally want to make Plus X Brighton the healthiest workspace in the city – a place where the environment aids positivity and productivity and the Plus X team will be fostering a nurturing environment.”

Well standards have been created by Wellspace, an organisation which looks to encourage other employers to focus more on health and wellbeing in the work place.

The standards are based on 11 features addressing issues that affect the health, comfort or knowledge of people working in the building.

They cover “the quality of the air, water, nourishment on offer, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind, community and innovations”.

Jake Adams, co-founder of Wellspace, said: “We see people conduct blanket activities which result in low take-up, time wasted for a lot of staff and money wasted for the business.

“We’re delighted to be working with Plus X who are embracing the concept from top to bottom, creating an easy-to-use programme that increases engagement and knowledge of the importance of wellbeing for their members.”

Other measures put in place by developers to help the site hit the platinum standard include using more renewable energy to power the building, making it carbon neutral, implementing a “zero to landfill policy” and building a plant-laden rooftop terrace.

A spokesman for the development said: “As studies have proven that when surrounded by plants, people’s happiness, focus and productivity improves, Plus X has a ‘biophilia strategy’ incorporating plenty of greenery allowing people to commune with nature both inside and out.

“A dog-friendly policy also allows people to bring dogs to work, which is known to help stress management.

“Brighton’s first rooftop terrace featuring edible plants and herbs will be opening in spring for private events and for members to use as thinking space.

“Work spaces will also be flooded with natural light from large windows, as this is believed to support the circadian rhythm, improving people’s sleep-wake cycles.”

Rosemary-infused water will be provided “to help focus and boost immunity.

Olga said: “People react to the environment they are working in and it is possible to feel healthy and inspired in the work place.

“Plus X is there to make it easy so that our members can focus on what they do best, which is running their business.”

The Plus X development is predicted to open in March this year at the Preston Barracks site in Lewes Road, Brighton.