Circular Economy Statement
The construction industry accounts for roughly 60 per cent of all material use and a third of all waste generated in the UK. A Circular Economy Statement challenges the traditional linear model of 'take, make, dispose' by setting out how a development will be designed, constructed, and managed to keep materials in use for as long as possible, minimise waste, and maximise opportunities for reuse and recycling. The concept has moved from aspiration to policy requirement, with the Greater London Authority leading the way.
Typical Cost
£300 – £5,000+
Turnaround
1 – 6 weeks
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What is a Circular Economy Statement?
A Circular Economy Statement is a planning document that demonstrates how circular economy principles have been integrated into the design, construction, and long-term management of a proposed development. It addresses how the development will minimise resource consumption through efficient design, specify materials with recycled content and low environmental impact, reduce construction waste and divert it from landfill, design buildings for longevity, adaptability, and eventual disassembly, and plan for the management of waste during the operational life of the building. The statement follows the waste hierarchy and the principles of designing out waste, keeping materials in use, and regenerating natural systems.
When is a Circular Economy Statement required?
Circular Economy Statements are required for GLA-referable applications in London under London Plan Policy SI 7, which applies to developments that meet the referral thresholds. Several London boroughs have also adopted policies requiring Circular Economy Statements for major applications within their boundaries. Outside London, the requirement is less common but emerging, with councils in Bristol, Manchester, and other cities beginning to incorporate circular economy policies into their local plans. The expectation is that circular economy requirements will become more widespread as national policy evolves.
What does a Circular Economy Statement include?
A Circular Economy Statement typically addresses the following areas: a pre-demolition audit of any existing buildings on the site to identify materials suitable for reuse or recycling, the Bill of Materials setting out the key construction materials by mass and identifying recycled content, design strategies for longevity and adaptability including flexibility of floor layouts, oversized structure for future change of use, and accessible servicing zones, design for disassembly including reversible connections, documented material specifications, and disassembly plans, operational waste management strategies covering segregation, storage, and collection of recyclable materials, and a commitment to post-completion reporting using the GLA's Circular Economy Statement template.
How much does a Circular Economy Statement cost?
A Circular Economy Statement for a standard major residential development typically costs between £3,000 and £6,000. Larger or more complex mixed-use schemes may cost £6,000 to £10,000, particularly where detailed pre-demolition audits, Bill of Materials analysis, and extensive design for disassembly strategies are required. For GLA-referable applications, the cost includes completing the GLA's reporting template, which requires specific data formats and quantities.
Who can prepare a Circular Economy Statement?
Circular Economy Statements are prepared by sustainability consultants with expertise in materials, waste management, and circular design principles. Practitioners should be familiar with the GLA's Circular Economy Statement Guidance, BS 8001 (Framework for implementing the principles of the circular economy in organizations), and pre-demolition audit methodologies. Collaboration with the project architect is essential, as many circular economy measures relate to design decisions such as structural grid layouts, connection details, and material specifications.
How long does a Circular Economy Statement take?
A Circular Economy Statement typically takes 4 to 8 weeks to prepare. The pre-demolition audit, if required, adds further time for site inspection and reporting. The statement requires input from the architect regarding design for adaptability and disassembly, the structural engineer regarding material specifications, and the waste management consultant regarding operational waste strategies. For GLA applications, the statement must be submitted at planning stage, with a post-completion update required before occupation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the circular economy in construction?
The circular economy in construction means designing and building in a way that keeps materials and resources in use for as long as possible. Instead of the linear approach of extracting materials, using them once, and sending them to landfill, circular principles promote reuse of existing materials, specification of recycled content, design for longevity and adaptability, and eventual disassembly so materials can be recovered and used again.
What is a pre-demolition audit?
A pre-demolition audit is a survey of existing buildings on a development site to identify materials and components that can be salvaged, reused, or recycled before demolition takes place. The audit catalogues items such as bricks, tiles, timber, structural steel, radiators, sanitaryware, and fixtures. It estimates quantities and identifies potential markets or recipients for reclaimed materials. The audit should be carried out before any demolition work begins.
What is design for disassembly?
Design for disassembly (DfD) is an approach to building design that anticipates the eventual deconstruction of the building so that materials can be recovered and reused rather than demolished and sent to landfill. DfD strategies include using bolted rather than welded steel connections, mechanical fixings rather than adhesives, standardised component sizes, and maintaining detailed records of material specifications and connection methods. The aim is to create buildings that can be taken apart as easily as they were put together.
What is a Bill of Materials?
A Bill of Materials in the context of a Circular Economy Statement is a detailed inventory of the key construction materials used in the development, listed by mass. It identifies the recycled content of each material, the source and supply chain, and the potential for recovery and reuse at end of life. The GLA requires the Bill of Materials to cover the top five materials by mass and to report the percentage of recycled and reused content for each.
Is a Circular Economy Statement required outside London?
Currently, few local authorities outside London have mandatory Circular Economy Statement requirements. However, the principle of resource efficiency and waste minimisation is embedded in national planning policy, and several councils are developing policies that address circular economy principles. Bristol, Greater Manchester, and Edinburgh are among the areas introducing circular economy requirements. Preparing a statement voluntarily can demonstrate good practice and anticipate future policy requirements.
How does the Circular Economy Statement relate to the Whole Life Carbon Assessment?
The two documents are closely related. The Whole Life Carbon Assessment quantifies the carbon emissions associated with materials over the building's life cycle, while the Circular Economy Statement focuses on keeping those materials in use and minimising waste. Specifying recycled content and designing for disassembly — measures addressed in the Circular Economy Statement — directly reduce the embodied carbon reported in the Whole Life Carbon Assessment. The two documents should be prepared in coordination.
What operational waste facilities should be included?
The statement should set out how the development will manage waste during its operational life. This includes dedicated waste storage rooms or areas sized to accommodate segregated recycling, refuse, and food waste bins. The design should ensure convenient access for residents or building users to encourage recycling, and easy collection routes for waste vehicles. The GLA expects at least four waste streams to be accommodated: dry mixed recycling, food waste, general waste, and bulky waste.
What is functional adaptability?
Functional adaptability refers to the ability of a building to accommodate changes in use over its lifetime without requiring major structural works or demolition. In the context of a Circular Economy Statement, this might include designing floor-to-floor heights that allow conversion between residential and commercial use, providing structural capacity for additional loads, or planning layouts that can be reconfigured as needs change. Adaptable buildings have longer useful lives, reducing the need for new construction.
Does the GLA require post-completion reporting?
Yes. For GLA-referable applications, the developer must submit a post-completion Circular Economy Statement that reports the actual outcomes achieved during construction. This includes the quantities of materials reused and recycled, the actual recycled content of key materials, the amount of construction waste generated and diverted from landfill, and any changes to the design for disassembly strategy. This requirement is typically secured through a planning condition.
How can I maximise recycled content in construction materials?
Specifying recycled content requires engagement with the supply chain at an early stage. Concrete can incorporate recycled aggregates and ground-granulated blast furnace slag or pulverised fuel ash as partial cement replacements. Structural steel typically contains 60 per cent or more recycled content when sourced from electric arc furnace production. Insulation products are available with recycled plastic or glass content. The Circular Economy Statement should set recycled content targets and identify specific products or suppliers that can meet them.