Pre-Redevelopment Audit

The terms are largely interchangeable. A Pre-Demolition Audit is specifically focused on buildings to be demolished, while a Pre-Redevelopment Audit may have a wider scope covering refurbishment as well as demolition. The GLA uses the term Pre-Redevelopment Audit in its Circular Economy Statement guidance, reflecting the fact that audits are valuable for refurbishment projects where materials can be retained and reused in situ, not just for demolitions.

There is no standalone national legislation requiring Pre-Redevelopment Audits. However, they are increasingly required through planning conditions, BREEAM assessments, and the GLA's Circular Economy Statement guidance. The waste hierarchy enshrined in the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 requires waste producers to take reasonable measures to apply the hierarchy, and the audit provides the evidence base for doing so.

Salvaged materials can be reused directly on the new development, sold to architectural salvage merchants and reclamation yards, donated to community reuse organisations, or offered on materials exchange platforms. High-value items such as period fireplaces, original floorboards, heritage bricks, and architectural stonework can have significant resale value. The audit should identify a disposal route for each salvageable item and include a local directory of salvage merchants.

The audit should identify all asbestos-containing materials within the building, record their type, condition, and location, and classify them according to the risk they present. This element must comply with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and should be conducted by a suitably qualified surveyor. The audit recommendations will specify whether asbestos can be managed in situ during refurbishment or must be removed by a licensed contractor before demolition proceeds.

Current best practice targets the diversion of at least 90% of demolition waste from landfill by weight. BREEAM sets a benchmark of 80% diversion for its waste credits, with additional points for higher performance. Concrete, bricks, metals, timber, and glass all have established recycling routes. The audit should identify realistic diversion rates for each material stream based on the condition of the materials and the availability of local recycling facilities.

Yes. A thorough audit should include foundations, basement structures, underground tanks, drainage infrastructure, and any below-ground services. These elements represent significant material volumes, particularly concrete and steel, and must be accounted for in the waste management strategy. Below-ground structures may also contain contamination from historical uses, which needs to be identified and addressed separately.

Under the BREEAM New Construction scheme, the Waste category awards credits for conducting a pre-demolition audit and implementing its recommendations. The audit must be carried out before demolition begins, identify materials for reuse and recycling, and inform the Site Waste Management Plan. Achieving the relevant BREEAM credits typically requires demonstrating that the audit's recommendations were implemented and that waste diversion targets were met.

A Circular Economy Statement is required by the London Plan for applications referred to the Mayor. It demonstrates how the development applies circular economy principles including designing out waste, keeping materials in use, and regenerating natural systems. The Pre-Redevelopment Audit forms a key component of the statement, providing the evidence base for material recovery from existing structures and informing the overall circular economy strategy for the project.

Yes. A well-conducted audit can reduce demolition costs by identifying materials with resale value that offset demolition expenses, enabling more efficient waste segregation which reduces disposal costs, avoiding unexpected encounters with hazardous materials during demolition which cause delays and additional expense, and allowing the demolition contractor to plan the most cost-effective demolition sequence. The upfront cost of the audit is typically recovered many times over through improved resource management.

For heritage buildings, the audit takes on additional significance. It should identify features of architectural or historical interest that could be salvaged, such as decorative plasterwork, stained glass, panelling, and period ironmongery. Local authority conservation officers and organisations such as Historic England may require specific items to be recorded and salvaged as a condition of Listed Building Consent or conservation area consent for demolition. The audit provides the structured framework for this process.