Kensington and Chelsea Council has launched its first purpose-built extra care scheme, integrating sustainable building design and low carbon construction materials to achieve higher environmental performance within the wider Lots Road South development. The project highlights a rising focus on environmental sustainability in construction across the UK public sector. By prioritising energy-efficient buildings with low embodied carbon materials, the borough aims to reduce the whole life carbon of its social infrastructure.
Ward Williams, a construction consultancy with strong sustainability credentials, is expanding its national presence with five new regional offices. This strategic growth enables broader implementation of circular construction strategies, whole life carbon assessment and sustainable building practices. The firm’s regional presence supports clients working towards net zero whole life carbon outcomes and reinforces the industry’s transition to low carbon design and lifecycle assessment methodologies.
The International Energy Agency forecasts a rapid global shift to renewable power by 2030, led by solar energy. As more buildings connect to cleaner grids, the carbon footprint of construction becomes increasingly linked to the building lifecycle performance. Energy-efficient buildings designed to generate and store renewable power contribute significantly to net zero carbon buildings, reinforcing the role of eco-design for buildings and advancing ambitions for carbon neutral construction over time.
New government funding of £1.1 billion to modernise UK municipal recycling systems supports the creation of sustainable urban development. While not building-specific, improved waste flows and greener procurement bolster circular economy in construction practices. Enhanced infrastructure enables better application of end-of-life reuse in construction and encourages the use of environmental product declarations (EPDs) during material selection.
Research co-funded by NASA highlights that degraded Amazon forests retain diminished carbon absorption capacity for decades. This raises urgency for the construction sector to minimise the environmental impact of construction by avoiding reliance on deforestation-linked timber. Prioritising renewable building materials and embodied carbon in materials through responsible sourcing is critical to reducing the carbon footprint of construction and aligning with whole life carbon goals.
As freshwater scarcity intensifies globally, water-intensive construction practices face rising regulatory pressure. Implementing closed-loop water systems and designing for water resilience will become key elements in sustainable architecture. Combined with life cycle thinking in construction, these strategies support wider decarbonising of the built environment and promote a green construction approach that conserves resources across the full asset lifespan.
