Heidelberg Materials has been granted approval to build the UK’s first cement plant with integrated carbon capture and storage technology in North Wales. This marks a significant advance in reducing whole life carbon and embodied carbon emissions from cement production—one of the most carbon-intensive aspects of the construction industry. The Padeswood facility positions the UK as a leader in decarbonising the built environment and delivering net zero whole life carbon goals in cement manufacturing, setting a standard for sustainable construction.
In Basingstoke, LevertonHelm has opened a new £30m lithium chloride facility to support the supply chain for electric vehicle batteries. As the construction sector shifts towards electric vehicles in fleets and machinery, operational carbon and carbon footprint reduction on-site become achievable. Reliable access to low carbon construction materials and improved energy-efficient buildings supports overall environmental sustainability in construction and drives green infrastructure development.
A recent study has revealed that more than half of UK councils are unable to monitor the reliability of public electric vehicle chargers. Reliable charging infrastructure is critical for the transition to electric construction vehicles, which underpins sustainable building design, eco-design for buildings, and resource efficiency in construction—further contributing to low embodied carbon materials and lifecycle assessment in project planning.
Despite increasing demand for green construction jobs, access to the UK’s green jobs market remains challenging. A significant proportion of the workforce expresses a willingness to retrain or accept lower pay to enter sustainable roles, yet a perceived lack of available positions puts delivery of green infrastructure and sustainable building practices at risk. This workforce gap may affect timely achievement of environmental sustainability, whole life carbon assessment, and circular economy in construction.
Internationally, the International Maritime Organization has adopted new regulations on shipping emissions, compelling ships to use cleaner fuels by 2028. These changes will affect construction supply chains, increasing the demand for low carbon building materials and sustainable material specification, and prompting wider adoption of low carbon design and sustainable urban development strategies worldwide.
Innovations in climate action extend to pilot projects targeting ocean carbon removal. While currently outside the direct remit of construction, such breakthroughs could eventually impact carbon offsetting strategies, embodied carbon in materials calculations, environmental product declarations (EPDs), and future regulations on the environmental impact of construction.
