The UK’s largest battery energy storage project has secured £200 million in government funding, underscoring the role of green infrastructure in supporting a low carbon economy. Such projects are increasingly influencing sustainable building design by enabling construction to run on cleaner grids and helping deliver net zero carbon buildings with greater resilience. Large-scale storage capacity reduces the carbon footprint of construction supply chains by shifting reliance away from fossil-based energy.
In the construction sector, new schemes highlight the tension between meeting housing and infrastructure needs and reducing embodied carbon in materials. A recently approved student accommodation project in Bristol and a spa development in Manchester showcase how sustainable construction can balance volume with environmental sustainability in construction. Developers face greater pressure to carry out whole life carbon assessment on projects, ensuring that operational energy use and the embodied carbon of structures are minimised alongside delivering high-quality housing demand.
At the European level, new legislation on food and textile waste reduction will impact future eco-design for buildings. Developers of commercial sites will need to incorporate lifecycle assessment principles and rethink building lifecycle performance, ensuring that facilities accommodate improved waste segregation and recycling aligned with circular economy strategies. These directives support wider circular economy in construction goals and will drive sustainable building practices in large retail, office, and hospitality projects.
Emerging research on biodiversity reveals new opportunities for regenerative master planning. Findings that East African fig trees excel at storing inorganic carbon strengthen the case for low carbon design strategies that integrate nature-based solutions. Biodiversity-led urban planning can mitigate the environmental impact of construction while aligning with net zero whole life carbon pathways. Such integration enhances environmental product declarations (EPDs) related to landscaping and supports life cycle thinking in construction.
Advances in renewable hydrogen production are gaining traction. Recent breakthroughs in Scotland demonstrate a potential future for low carbon building and energy-efficient buildings powered by clean molecules rather than fossil fuels. For contractors, this could mean eco-friendly construction processes on-site with reduced reliance on diesel, supporting carbon footprint reduction and contributing to decarbonising the built environment.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has launched global standards for responsible AI use in surveying, directly linked to sustainable building practices. AI-enabled lifecycle assessment, predictive modelling and digital twins are set to transform sustainable architecture and resource efficiency in construction. By embedding whole life carbon and life cycle cost considerations into digital workflows, professionals gain the ability to optimise eco-friendly construction outcomes while ensuring technology aligns with ethical standards.
