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 £170 million Knauf Insulation factory in North Wales is set to produce over 100,000 tonnes of rock mineral wool insulation annually. The facility will bolster the supply of high-performance, low Whole Life Carbon materials, critical as demand grows for products that minimise the carbon footprint of construction. The initiative aligns with increasing adoption of lifecycle assessment and whole life carbon assessment to support eco-design for buildings and low carbon construction materials.
HES International and Binding Solutions have agreed to explore a £22.4 million investment in a green steel plant in Rotterdam, leveraging innovative technologies to reduce emissions in steelmaking. This project represents an important step in decarbonising the built environment, lowering embodied carbon in materials, and setting benchmarks for circular economy strategies within global supply chains.
In East Ayrshire, a major battery storage project has received planning approval for a 30MW facility, providing vital energy storage capacity for approximately 16,200 homes. This development supports green infrastructure and increased use of renewable energy, essential to reducing the carbon footprint of construction and ensuring reliable supply as sectors transition to net zero carbon operations.
Collectively, these developments accelerate progress towards sustainable construction and the circular economy in construction. From local production of renewable building materials to innovative energy storage and life cycle cost optimisation, the industry is investing in environmental sustainability. Strategic focus on whole life carbon, sustainable design, and green construction underscores a commitment to aligning the construction industry with climate targets, while supporting local economies and setting new standards for sustainable urban development.
