The UK government’s National Wealth Fund has committed up to £200 million for the Thorpe Marsh battery energy storage system in Yorkshire, taking the project’s total investment to more than £1 billion. With capacity to supply clean electricity for over 785,000 homes, this flagship infrastructure demonstrates how sustainable construction integrates energy resilience into the built environment. By supporting renewable generation with large-scale storage, the project addresses embodied carbon in energy systems and strengthens the foundations for net zero whole life carbon strategies.
Jones Bros has been appointed to deliver the Newport Battery Park, set to become one of the UK’s largest battery energy storage sites. These facilities reposition energy storage as central to sustainable building design rather than as ancillary systems. They reflect a shift in construction priorities towards environmental sustainability in construction, where whole life carbon assessment and lifecycle assessment now guide decisions as much as traditional cost or engineering factors.
Sir Robert McAlpine has been selected as construction lead for a new Manchester health spa designed to balance modern wellness with ecological responsibility. The scheme incorporates sustainable building practices and low carbon design principles to achieve long-term energy efficiency. The project highlights how eco-design for buildings and sustainable design are being adopted in high-profile developments, ensuring reduced carbon footprint of construction while aligning with green construction benchmarks such as BREEAM.
Digital governance also shapes sustainability outcomes. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has launched a global standard for managing AI in surveying, helping to ensure transparent and equitable use of data in sustainable building practices. Reliable digital oversight supports accurate lifecycle assessment and life cycle cost analysis, both essential for documenting embodied carbon in materials and tracking building lifecycle performance across decades.
Renewables innovation continues to diversify project pathways. Clyde Hydrogen has secured backing for next-generation production technology, aimed at lowering costs and risks. A viable hydrogen supply could transform large-scale infrastructure and support a circular economy in construction through decarbonising the built environment and broadening the scope of alternative fuels considered in carbon neutral construction strategies.
Recent polling shows growing public support for renewable energy, green infrastructure and sustainable urban development. Voters indicate strong interest in solutions that minimise the environmental impact of construction while achieving carbon footprint reduction. This momentum reinforces the importance of sustainable material specification, low embodied carbon materials, and circular construction strategies for achieving energy-efficient buildings and net zero carbon buildings worldwide.
