Scotland’s Climate Change Committee has pressed the Scottish Government to target a 57 per cent emissions reduction by 2030, with strategic actions across buildings, agriculture, land use, and surface transport. The recommendations emphasise urgent measures targeting the built environment, particularly construction and retrofit, to drive progress towards net zero whole life carbon ambitions and address missed milestones in environmental sustainability in construction. A landmark £500m...

Carbon Clean has successfully tested the world’s largest Rotating Packed Bed (RPB) carbon capture system in Huddersfield, signalling a major advance in environmental sustainability in construction. This breakthrough technology supports deep decarbonisation of existing and new facilities and will help reduce both operational carbon and embodied carbon in materials. For the construction sector, implementing whole life carbon assessment and low carbon design is now more achievable, offering...

Barratt, the UK’s largest house-builder, has committed to meeting or exceeding the Passivhaus standard across all London residential developments. By prioritising energy-efficient buildings and sustainable building design, Barratt aims to drastically reduce operational carbon and improve the internal comfort of residents. This move signals a shift towards net zero carbon buildings and highlights how large-scale developers are embedding environmental sustainability in construction. A new...

The UK and European Union have announced a landmark agreement to link their Emissions Trading Schemes, delivering major cost savings for exporters through streamlined cross-border carbon pricing. Anticipated annual savings of up to £800 million for UK exporters and total transaction cost reductions exceeding €1 billion by 2030 are expected. This move supports environmental sustainability in construction, enabling businesses to better align with international decarbonisation and net zero...

Watson Construction has started the first phase of a major housing development in Widnes, turning a brownfield site into over 300 new homes. This project highlights sustainable urban development and environmental sustainability in construction by reusing formerly developed land and promoting responsible land management. Sustainable building design and sustainable construction practices are central to the initiative, demonstrating how whole life carbon assessment and life cycle cost...

A major investment of up to £1bn from ENGIE and CDPQ will refurbish the Dinorwig and Ffestiniog hydro plants, critical components of the UK’s energy infrastructure. Together accounting for around three-quarters of the nation’s pumped hydro storage, this upgrade supports the transition to net zero whole life carbon and more energy-efficient buildings. Enhancing hydro infrastructure is key to reducing the carbon footprint of construction and advancing environmental sustainability in...

Refurbishment projects will soon begin at the Dinorwig and Ffestiniog pumped hydro storage plants, backed by up to £1 billion from ENGIE and CDPQ. As these sites contribute around 75% of the UK's pumped hydro storage capacity, their upgrade is crucial for strengthening the country’s energy infrastructure and integrating renewable energy sources. This investment supports the national grid’s decarbonisation and aligns with the move toward low carbon building and operational carbon reduction...

Award-winning redevelopment at the Royal College of Music in London highlights sustainable building design and eco-design for buildings, integrating modern needs with the preservation of architectural heritage. Energy-efficient buildings and low carbon design strategies are increasingly vital in such projects, demonstrating best practice in sustainable construction and environmental sustainability in construction. Renovations at Elizabeth Tower, Palace of Westminster, also exemplify green...

ENGIE and CDPQ have announced an investment of up to £1 billion to refurbish the Dinorwig and Ffestiniog hydro storage plants in the UK, supporting whole life carbon reduction and strengthening energy resilience. These refurbished sites will extend operational life and enable a more sustainable energy infrastructure by balancing renewable inputs and supporting the decarbonising of the built environment. Such investments align with the need to consider whole life carbon assessment and life...

The UK government has launched a consultation to define 'nature positive' for the built environment sector, aiming to prevent greenwashing and enhance environmental sustainability in construction. This move acknowledges the demand for standardised frameworks that integrate biodiversity and nature restoration into new projects. Stakeholder input will influence future sustainable building design and sustainable building practices across the construction industry. The initiative focuses on robust...