The UK government has announced a £1 billion investment to expand large-scale battery production with the new AESC gigafactory in Sunderland. This move aims to support the manufacturing of batteries for around 100,000 electric vehicles annually, create over 1,000 jobs and accelerate efforts to decarbonise the transport sector. Such investments strengthen the UK's place in the electric vehicle supply chain and demonstrate commitment to net zero carbon and whole life carbon reduction in the built environment.
Clarion Housing has issued its first Climate Transition Plan, prioritising retrofit strategies, electrification of heating, and a just transition to net zero carbon buildings by 2050. This highlights the growing focus on sustainable building design and environmental sustainability in construction. Clarion’s strategy promotes energy-efficient buildings, low carbon building solutions, and building lifecycle performance upgrades for the existing housing stock, aiming to support a fair and achievable move towards a circular economy in construction.
Advancements in sustainable construction technology continue, with Brinno releasing the BCC5000 time-lapse camera for construction sites. This technology enables better lifecycle assessment, project monitoring, and documentation, supporting resource efficiency in construction and eco-design for buildings. Digital solutions like this facilitate more sustainable construction practices and help the sector achieve measurable carbon footprint reduction.
Environmental impact of construction is under intense examination as new research from Veolia focuses on the incineration of PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ in the waste stream. The findings show that advanced incinerators can significantly degrade these hazardous substances, which supports stricter regulations and improved whole life carbon assessment in construction and waste management.
These sustainability-led developments in both residential and industrial sectors reflect a global shift towards low carbon design and sustainable material specification. Government support and industry innovation are driving the adoption of net zero whole life carbon approaches, circular economy principles, and embodied carbon reduction across the built environment, helping establish a more resilient and environmentally responsible construction sector.
As international demand increases for greener building solutions, these updates reinforce the vital link between policy, industry collaboration, and the integration of green construction technologies. The ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability in construction contributes to the evolution of a net zero, low-impact construction sector built on circular construction strategies, energy efficiency, and lifecycle thinking.
