Progress towards sustainable construction is uneven yet gathering momentum. The UK government has launched Great British Energy, aimed at publicly owned clean energy generation. While not construction-specific, its success by 2030 could transform the carbon footprint of construction by providing a cleaner grid. A stable low-carbon energy supply underpins sustainable building design and supports net zero whole life carbon ambitions across the built environment. In the United States, financial...

Government advisors and leading industry groups are pressing the UK to transform infrastructure delivery by placing retrofit, reuse and recycling at the forefront of policy. Proposals to remove VAT on retrofitting aim to accelerate uptake of circular economy strategies while embedding circular economy in construction. This approach links directly with Whole Life Carbon Assessment and lifecycle assessment, highlighting that extending the life of existing assets often delivers greater carbon...

A growing policy push is urging construction to integrate circular economy principles at scale. The Environmental Industries Commission has pressed the UK government to exempt retrofitting from VAT to accelerate sustainable building design. Calls to enshrine whole life carbon assessment in infrastructure projects align with demands for stronger recycling, reuse, and resource efficiency in construction. Targeting embodied carbon in materials is becoming central to net zero Whole Life Carbon...

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has launched a global consultation on sustainable construction standards to address inconsistent adoption of frameworks across markets. This move directly impacts how whole life carbon and embodied carbon in materials are measured and reported. Establishing a consistent whole life carbon assessment is crucial to driving environmental sustainability in construction and setting reliable benchmarks for low carbon building and infrastructure. A...

Peel Waters has submitted a new planning application for Mea Park West, a major part of the Wirral Waters regeneration scheme in the UK. The development is centred on low carbon design, featuring green infrastructure, cycle networks, and public realm improvements. Positioned as one of the country’s most ambitious projects, the expansion is expected to strengthen sustainable building practices while supporting net zero carbon ambitions and local employment. The project reflects a shift towards...

Recent data shows the UK construction sector has entered its eighth consecutive month of decline. Analysts point to broader economic uncertainty and disruption in adopting low carbon design as key drags. Ambiguity around net zero Whole Life Carbon policies and slower integration of low Embodied Carbon materials are delaying progress, creating pressures on sustainable construction projects that require clarity on Whole Life Carbon Assessment and long-term Life Cycle Costing. The impact...

The UK construction industry is under sustained pressure as the PMI shows eight consecutive months of decline. The downturn is holding back sustainable construction, especially in relation to whole life carbon assessment and the scaling of net zero carbon buildings. High borrowing costs and subdued demand are limiting the ability of developers to invest in low carbon design and sustainable building practices, leaving the transition to greener infrastructure increasingly exposed to financial...

The market outlook for sustainable construction is being reshaped by rapid advances in renewable building materials. Hempcrete is drawing global attention for its ability to store carbon while delivering strong performance in low carbon building applications. Forecasts show rising adoption of hempcrete from 2025 to 2033, positioning it as a leading choice for eco-friendly construction and a driver of lower embodied carbon in materials. The sector increasingly views such innovations as pivotal...

The UK construction sector continues to face declining output, with eight consecutive months of contraction recorded. Project pipelines are shrinking and investors remain cautious in the face of economic volatility and rising material costs. The slowdown places pressure on sustainable construction, raising concerns about the delivery of net zero Whole Life Carbon strategies and the adoption of sustainable building design at scale. Momentum on green construction risks being undermined as...

The UK construction industry continues to face a prolonged downturn, with activity levels in decline for eight consecutive months. Pressure from limited market opportunities, constrained planning processes and material supply challenges is reinforcing the urgency of moving towards sustainable construction. The sector is increasingly focused on whole life carbon assessment, lifecycle assessment and life cycle cost analysis to better understand and mitigate the environmental impact of...