Circular Economy Pre-Demolition and Pre-Redevelopment Audits
In March 2022, the Greater London Authority (GLA) released the London Plan Guidance Circular Economy Statement detailing how to prepare a circular economy statement prior to submitting a planning request.
This document includes guidance on how the design of new buildings and the redevelopment of existing structures can promote circular economy outcomes. Therefore, all developments are required to aim for high sustainability standards, and to take into account the principles of the circular economy.
The Circular Economy Guidance (CE) has 6 principles, which should be a fundamental part of the building design process.
These are:
Building in layers – ensuring that different parts of the building are accessible and can be maintained and replaced where necessary
Designing out waste – ensuring that waste reduction is planned in from project inception to completion, including consideration of standardised components, modular build, and reuse of secondary products and materials
Designing for longevity
Designing for adaptability or flexibility
Designing for disassembly
Using systems, elements or materials that can be reused and recycled
Circular Economy pre-demolition or pre-redevelopment audits/surveys (PDAs) are undertaken with the key goal of maximising the recovery of Key Demolition Products (KDPs) and diverting materials from landfill by following the order of the waste hierarchy:
Prevention
Preparing for Reuse
Recycling
Other Recovery
Disposal
Circular Economy Audits differ to BREEAM Audits by including a detailed inventory of internal and external key demolition products and building fabric (excluding furniture) and provide estimations of weights, volumes and also end-of-life embodied carbon within those materials identified.
Where relevant, these will quantify component numbers in addition to weights and volumes where these will assist in design decisions (e.g. 10 x doors, 50 x windows).
As required by the GLA Circular Economy Statement, these should be undertaken by an independent third party early on, during the pre-application stage (RIBA 2/3) and inform the design.
The audit should assist with the design analysis that fully explores options for retaining existing structures, materials and the fabric of existing buildings into the new development. This should also assist in considering the refurbishment of buildings as opposed to undertaking substantial demolition.
The Pre-Demolition and Pre-Redevelopment Audit Process
During the audit, a non-intrusive investigation of the internal and external areas of the site is undertaken, using appropriate measuring tools as well as the analysis of information received prior to audit which can include original architect drawings, demolition plans or structural drawings.
This information is collated within Revive’s bespoke software to provide estimated weights and volumes of Key Demolition Products (KDPs) which will include the building structure, roof and internal fabric as well as external elements like hard standing surfaces.
For pre-redevelopment audits, these assessments are undertaken as per the proposed scope of redevelopment/refurbishment works as opposed to the demolition of the whole building.
Working in accordance with the BRE Pre-Redevelopment Waste Audit Code of Practice and GLA Circular Economy Statement, Revive will incorporate the following steps within the PDA:
Collection and examination of received information
Site Audit
Estimation of types, amounts and weights of materials
Estimations of embodied carbon with materials
Assessment of the suitability of materials for reuse/recycling/other waste management methods
Recommendations for materials management, recycling and target setting
The identification of practical and realistic providers who can act as brokers for each of the reclaimed items
Estimation of types, amounts and weights of materials broken down into building elements
This will in turn support the principle contractors site waste or resource management plan in managing materials from the demolition/refurbishment process and ensuring recovery is in line with the waste hierarchy.
In addition, the embodied carbon data provided within the report can be incorporated into the projects Whole Lift-Cycle Assessment, which sets out the principles of the environmental impacts from of-built projects and should demonstrate the actions that have been, and will be, taken to reduce carbon emissions.
Should you have any further circular economy requirements or receive a quotation, contact Revive to discuss your needs.
