Heidelberg Materials is building the world’s first carbon capture facility to enable fully decarbonised cement production after reaching a FID (Final Investment Decision) with the UK Government for its carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in north Wales. The announcement, made today by Michael Shanks, Energy Minister in the Department
British Gypsum and Isover have launched episode six of their Building Better video series – taking viewers on a tour of the cutting-edge Energy House 2.0 facility, where academics are closing the gap between the design and performance of new build properties. The largest test and research facility of its
The pressure on UK housing developers and contractors has never been greater. Demand for homes continues to rise, while labour shortages, compliance burdens, and tight delivery schedules make it increasingly difficult to meet targets. The traditional build process — fragmented across multiple suppliers and trades — is showing its limitations.
The UK’s smallest city, St Davids, is nearing completion of its final major housing development for at least the next 15 years, with every home finished with BMI Redland Cambrian Slate roof tiles. The 58-home Maes-Y-Felin scheme, delivered by GRD Homes, sits within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, one of
Concrete admixture manufacturer Oscrete has acquired the customers of Glassfibre Reinforced Concrete (GRC) specialists Cemcotec. The successful integration of Cemcotec’s customer base into Oscrete’s expanding operations, marks a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing growth strategy and is announced just weeks after Oscrete acquired structural waterproofing specialists, PUDLO, further expanding
FSi Promat has published new Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for two key products, highlighting the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, transparency and safety. As a leading manufacturer of fire stopping in the UK, FSi Promat has published the EPDs to provide customers with transparent, third party-verified data on the environmental
Euroform’s Versapanel® cement bonded particle board has played a role in meeting the acoustic performance criteria of the roof system for London’s largest new film and television campus, Eastbrook Studios in Dagenham. Commissioned to provide the roof system covering an area of over 23,000m², roof and façade specialist Kalzip’s objective
Material Evolution is launching a pilot project of its ultra-low carbon cement, MevoCem, in partnership with leading building materials solutions company CRH and its UK operating company Tarmac. The pilot will demonstrate MevoCem’s performance under the new BSI Code of Practice Flex 350 which allows for the specification of a wider
Work began in March to demolish St Helen’s Tower, the incumbent building on the site of the planned tallest building in London, One Undershaft. This will be the tallest building to be demolished in the capital to date. Based on details shared in planning documents published by the City of
Vivalda has underpinned its status as a national supplier of Cedral facades, following its extensive UK-branch network and investment in warehousing, logistics and fabrication technology. As one of the UK’s largest stockists of non-flammable facades, Vivalda is able to supply Cedral’s most popular products to contractors and merchants within just
Heidelberg Materials is building the world’s first carbon capture facility to enable fully decarbonised cement production after reaching a FID (Final Investment Decision) with the UK Government for its carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in north Wales. The announcement, made today by Michael Shanks, Energy Minister in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, allows the company to start construction of a carbon capture facility at its Padeswood cement works later this year and will enable production of net zero cement in 2029. The funding decision aligns with the UK Government’s ambitions to reduce CO₂ emissions and deliver economic growth through construction. Simon Willis, CEO at Heidelberg Materials UK, said: “Our constructive partnership with the UK Government has allowed us to reach this major milestone, which is fantastic news, not just for us, but for the industry as a whole. “Our new facility at Padeswood will be a world-leader. It will capture around 800,000 tonnes of CO₂ a year from our existing cement works, allowing us to produce evoZero carbon captured net zero cement, which will help the UK construction industry reach its decarbonisation aims. “CCS is a growing sector worldwide and our Padeswood project is an exemplar, helping position the UK as a global force at the forefront of this technology. It will also pave the way to decarbonising our domestic cement industry, helping it remain competitive while mitigating against climate change.” Cement is an essential construction material. It is the ‘glue’ in concrete, the most widely used building material in the world, but its production gives rise to CO₂. As these emissions result from the chemical process involved in cement’s manufacture, they cannot be avoided by using low carbon or renewable energy sources. The only way to remove them and produce the net zero cement the UK needs is to capture them using CCS before they enter the atmosphere. The carbon capture facility at Padeswood is designed to capture almost all (around 95 per cent) of the CO₂ emissions from the process. The emissions captured from the kiln include biogenic CO₂ from biomass fuels, mainly from domestic food, wood and paper wastes that cannot be recycled, which could allow the cement produced at Padeswood to be net negative.* The carbon captured at Padeswood will be compressed and transported via an underground pipeline for secure storage under the seabed in Liverpool Bay as part of the HyNet North West project. Heidelberg Materials’ CCS project will bring significant economic benefits to north Wales through investment and job creation: it will protect over 200 jobs and create around 50 new ones, as well as up to 500 more during construction. Energy Minister Michael Shanks said: “Our clean-energy mission means good jobs, regional growth, and investment for local communities. “This trailblazing cement works showcases the north Wales workforce on the global stage – leading the charge in the clean industries of the future and powering Britain’s reindustrialisation through this UK-first project.” Today’s announcement is another demonstration of Heidelberg Materials’ commitment to decarbonising cement production through CCS. The Padeswood project is the first of its kind in the UK and is Heidelberg Materials’ first full-scale carbon capture facility to reach FID. It follows the official opening of the world’s first carbon capture facility at a cement works at its Brevik site in Norway in June this year. Here, 50 per cent of the plant’s CO₂ emissions are being captured as part of the Norwegian government’s Longship programme. Find out more about the Padeswood CCS project at: padeswoodccs.co.uk or on Heidelberg Materials’ CCUS experience website: Heidelberg Materials – CCUS Experience Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
British Gypsum and Isover have launched episode six of their Building Better video series – taking viewers on a tour of the cutting-edge Energy House 2.0 facility, where academics are closing the gap between the design and performance of new build properties. The largest test and research facility of its kind, led by the University of Salford, Energy House 2.0 is the world’s first fully climate-controllable new build home. British Gypsum and Isover supported the exciting project to construct the three-bed detached new build home, designed to meet future performance and regulation requirements. In the previous episode, the Building Better series also unveiled Energy House 1, which features a Victorian end-terrace home. Both projects are helping to revolutionise the way in which the industry designs, builds and retrofits homes for a future of more sustainable and zero-carbon living. In this latest episode, Prof Richard Fitton, Professor of Energy Performance of Buildings for the University of Salford, takes us behind the doors of this high-tech facility where real houses are tested under simulated extreme weather conditions to evaluate energy performance, running costs and resilience. “With too much uncertainty in field testing conditions, Energy House 2.0 allows us to recreate the conditions of anywhere in the world where people live. As part of our testing, we can fast forward through climate change prediction, going 30, 50, even 80 years into the future to test how the house copes with those changes,” said Professor Richard Fitton. “Once testing is complete, we will then have huge amounts of measured data that we can share with the industry to help inform how they create smart living for the future. Research from Leeds Beckett University found in some circumstances up to a 150% gap between design and actual performance in in-field testing, whereas Energy House 2.0 has a gap of less than 10%, meaning that this is an extremely well-performing building.” Built within a sealed environmental chamber, Energy House 2.0 can replicate a wide range of weather conditions – from rain, wind, snow and solar through to temperatures ranging from -20°C to 40°C – enabling accurate, repeatable testing that accelerates innovation and reduces real-world risk. The research spans everything from fabric performance, airtightness, and U-values across floors, windows, ceilings, and roofs, to a thermography study. Órla Whelan, Customer Solutions and Portfolio Development Director at Saint-Gobain Interior Solutions, said: “This innovative climate-controlled testing provides us with a catalyst for speeding up the pace of development and hopefully paving a way for us to reduce our carbon emissions to zero. We are honoured to be a part of such a forward-thinking initiative. “The accurate data that is obtained from this testing allows the academics at the University of Salford to create calibrated models of the buildings with an accuracy within better than 5%. With this huge amount of insight, manufacturers can see exactly how these buildings perform before they are even built.” By showcasing the transformational research taking place at the University of Salford, the episode reinforces British Gypsum and Isover’s commitment to helping people live low-carbon lives through high-performance building solutions. Hosted by renowned architectural designer and television personality Charlie Luxton, Building Better delivers inspirational and thought-provoking content through weekly episodes, available on YouTube and via the Building Better Hub. To watch the full episode and explore more on how we’re building a better tomorrow, visit: www.saint-gobain.co.uk/building-better-hub. Or watch the episode directly on the Building Better YouTube Channel and hit subscribe to stay updated. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The pressure on UK housing developers and contractors has never been greater. Demand for homes continues to rise, while labour shortages, compliance burdens, and tight delivery schedules make it increasingly difficult to meet targets. The traditional build process — fragmented across multiple suppliers and trades — is showing its limitations. Delays, waste, and inefficiencies have become the norm. Developers need a new way forward and Nudura is here to help. That’s why we’ve launched BuildEase – our new simplified ICF delivery enablement service that addresses the construction industry’s call for quicker, more predictable, and lower-waste building systems. Backed by Tremco CPG UK and powered by the Nudura brand, BuildEase leads the shift towards smarter housing delivery. Designed for housing developers, housing associations and contractors, rather than coordinating multiple parties and different timelines, our end-to-end service provides a single partner from the earliest design stages through to completion – From Design to Delivery – aligning your design for buildability, supplying Nudura ICF systems tailored to your site layout, ensuring compliance documentation is in place, and even supporting your team on-site. A full-service build solution – here’s what BuildEase offers: Nudura ICF System Tailored to Your Site One of the core features of this service is providing our waste-reducing, factory Nudura ICF components. ICF construction available from Nudura, provides end users with an eco-friendly, sustainable development. Everything is prepared off-site based on your approved site layout and delivered ready to install. This reduces on-site material waste dramatically as there is less rework; speeds up installation as blocks arrive in logical order and ready to build – leading to a cleaner, more controlled build environment. Built for Compliance – Including NHBC Compliance is another area where we offer full support. BuildEase solutions are fully compliant with UK building standards and backed by warranty pathways. Our ICF systems are designed to be NHBC ready from day one, with compliance documentation prepared to support your technical submissions and simplify approvals. Rather than rushing to meet requirements at the last minute, we work with your compliance teams early in the project — helping ensure smooth approvals, reducing design risk and minimising surprises down the line. On-site Support & Delivery Sequencing Our on-site technical support is a key part of the service. When it comes to execution, we don’t leave you to figure it out alone. We provide supervision and, training for new crews, to ensure our ICF systems are installed quickly and correctly – minimising errors. We believe in being present and proactive by providing regular site visits and a technical support hotline, because we know how much is riding on every stage of your delivery timeline. Sustainable and Site-Smart At the heart of our BuildEase service offering is our support for safer builds and smarter outcomes. With ICF components arriving Nudura, BuildEase promotes reduced material waste on site and lower transport emissions. This helps developers meet ESG targets and planning obligations contributing to the builds’ sustainability reporting. Service that Delivers at Every Stage In a market that demands more homes, built faster, and to higher standards BuildEase provides the partner that delivers at every stage. From manufacturing to delivery and beyond, BuildEase is backed by Tremco CPG UK’s reputation for reliability service quality and technical care. With timely, phased deliveries, integrated support teams what you get is a reliable partner for repeatable housing delivery. Ready to build smarter? BuildEase is about giving developers and contractors what they really need: clarity, speed, and confidence in delivery. It’s about reducing friction at every stage and making smarter use of materials, labour, and time. Whether you’re building 10 homes or 100, our system is built to scale with you. And with one partner accountable for every stage — from design and materials to compliance and on-site support — BuildEase isn’t just a name, it’s our promise. Let’s explore how we can help you reduce waste, build faster, and take the pressure off your next housing development. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The UK’s smallest city, St Davids, is nearing completion of its final major housing development for at least the next 15 years, with every home finished with BMI Redland Cambrian Slate roof tiles. The 58-home Maes-Y-Felin scheme, delivered by GRD Homes, sits within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, one of Britain’s most tightly protected landscapes. With no further large-scale developments permitted in the city for the foreseeable future, this once-in-a-generation project faced intense planning scrutiny to ensure it preserved St Davids’ historic character in this designated conservation area while also delivering current building performance standards. “Building here required careful consideration of design and durability,” said Gareth Davies, Director at GRD Homes. “We needed a roofing product that not only blended seamlessly into its National Park surroundings, but could also stand up to harsh coastal weather and help us achieve our EPC A ratings. Cambrian Slate ticked every box.” Maes-Y-Felin is a tranquil development built to uncompromisingly high standards. The houses are traditionally built using the very best materials, giving them solidity and longevity. Time honoured touches such as native Pennant stone, Cambrian Slate roof tiles, and oak flooring combine with forward thinking additions such as charging points for electrical vehicles. Manufactured with over 60% recycled natural Welsh slate, Cambrian provides a natural slate appearance to satisfy demands for heritage requirements. While its mechanically fixed, clipped and nailed installation provides resistance to wind uplift, which was critical for St Davids’ exposed peninsula location. BMI Redland supplied a full roofing system, including Cambrian Ambi-Dry Verge and ridge kits, to deliver consistent detailing across the scheme’s mix of single-storey and complex dormer roof designs. The project was also supported through BMI SpecMaster, the company’s free-of-charge roof specification service which guarantees system performance for 15 years. For GRD Homes, this provided added reassurance that the roofing solution would deliver both performance and aesthetics over the long term. To keep the build on track and amid industry-wide supply pressures, GRD Homes worked with local merchant LBS to pre-stock Cambrian products, ensuring continuity from the first roofs in phase one to the final plots still in development. The development delivers 18 affordable homes for local residents alongside 40 executive and private properties, all built with locally sourced materials and trades wherever possible. “This project is a milestone for St Davids,” said Damien Pooley, Portfolio Manager for pitched roofing at BMI UK & Ireland. “It’s proof that even in the most sensitive and exposed locations, the right roofing system can help create new housing that blends with its surroundings.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Concrete admixture manufacturer Oscrete has acquired the customers of Glassfibre Reinforced Concrete (GRC) specialists Cemcotec. The successful integration of Cemcotec’s customer base into Oscrete’s expanding operations, marks a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing growth strategy and is announced just weeks after Oscrete acquired structural waterproofing specialists, PUDLO, further expanding its portfolio of expertise and services. The move further strengthens Oscrete’s position as a leading provider of innovative concrete solutions and reinforces the company’s commitment to delivering exceptional service and technical expertise across the construction industry. Cemcotec founder and GRC specialist Graham T Gilbert continues to provide consultancy to GRC manufacturers while Cemcotec customers will now benefit from the wider Oscrete team’s expertise and services. Oscrete Director Scott Wilson said: “As part of the transition, we are incredibly proud to continue our collaboration with Graham, a globally respected consultant with over 50 years of experience in GRC. Graham will continue to offer technical consultancy services, supporting Oscrete and our customers with his unparalleled knowledge and insight gained from decades of work on GRC projects around the world. “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Cemcotec’s customers into the Oscrete family in a merger which not only strengthens our business but also enhances the level of service and technical support we can offer.” Commenting on the merger, Graham added: “Having spent more than 50 years in the sector covering all aspects of GRC from research and development to its global roll out and then establishing of Cemcotec in 2005, I wanted a company which could build on these milestones and achievements and provide my customers with additional benefits and expertise. “Oscrete meets these requirements with their range of concrete additives, full warehousing and logistics network plus excellent laboratory facilities for mix evaluations and comprehensive support services. Having worked with Oscrete for many years, I am delighted to be placing my customers in such safe hands and to announce the start of an exciting new chapter for our customers and for the GRC industry itself.” Oscrete is a UK-based manufacturer specialising in concrete admixtures for precast, ready-mix concrete and mortars. The company was established in 1983 and is known for its innovative construction products which enhance the performance and durability of concrete applications, offering a range of bespoke solutions for the built environment. This latest development is a key part of Oscrete’s broader strategy to expand its technical capabilities and customer reach, particularly in the specialist GRC sector. Scott added: “With a growing team of expert consultants and our strong focus on innovation, Oscrete is well-positioned to lead the way in concrete technology and customer service.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
FSi Promat has published new Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for two key products, highlighting the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, transparency and safety. As a leading manufacturer of fire stopping in the UK, FSi Promat has published the EPDs to provide customers with transparent, third party-verified data on the environmental impact of Pyrocoustic® Sealant and Stopseal® Coating. FSi Promat’s EPDs are developed in line with ISO 14025 and EN150804+A2:2019 standards, which ensure the highest level of credibility, and transparency. Pyrocoustic® Sealant is designed to reinstate fire resistance in wall and floor construction in linear gap and service penetration seals. The environmental results of this product in the new EPD were a cradle-to-gate Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 1.0 kgCO2-Eq./kg and a total embodied carbon score of (A1 – A5, and C): 1.3kgCO2-Eq./kg. Stopseal® Coating is an ablative coating, used with the Stopseal® Batt System, to reinstate the fire resistance performance of wall constructions that have been penetrated by single or multiple services. The key environmental results from the EPD reports this product has a cradle-to-gate Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 0.7kgCO2 -Eq./kg. These figures are essential to mapping the overall environmental impact of a building project. Both products demonstrate a low carbon footprint during manufacturing and a low embodied carbon score throughout their lifecycle. Both flagship products are manufactured at FSi Promat’s Measham facility, which has recently transitioned to 100% renewable electricity, marking an additional milestone in the company’s sustainability strategy. Emma Taylor, Marketing Manager at FSi Promat, said: “The addition of the EPDs underlines the dedication at FSi Promat to developing sustainable solutions that continue to meet high standards of safety and performance. “The cradle-to-gate score is useful when selecting products as it provides a clear picture of its carbon footprint from the raw material right through to installation. This information helps users to understand and compare the environmental impact of the products they use, and to make an informed choice. “Providing transparent environmental credentials, as a result of third-party evaluation, is one of the key ways in which we support architects, specifiers, and contractors towards a safer, more sustainable future. This commitment aligns with the broader construction industry’s shift towards more sustainable building methods.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Euroform’s Versapanel® cement bonded particle board has played a role in meeting the acoustic performance criteria of the roof system for London’s largest new film and television campus, Eastbrook Studios in Dagenham. Commissioned to provide the roof system covering an area of over 23,000m², roof and façade specialist Kalzip’s objective was to design a project specific acoustic roof construction to achieve a significant sound reduction performance. As part of the tested system, Kalzip specified Versapanel® along with other elements, including rockfibre slab, glass wool insulation, an anti-drumming membrane and green roof, to the more noise exposed areas, including beside a train line, along with Kalzip structural components. Kalzip’s Chris Goldie explains, “Versapanel® was selected as a component in order to provide significant mass to the construction, contributing to the test criteria being meet.” Euroform supplied 40,000m² of Versapanel®. The product’s principal attributes are durability and excellent sound attenuation. Its density increases substantially the mass of systems, providing superior acoustic performance when used in various elements of construction, such as roofs, ceilings and walls. Versapanel® is specified extensively in constructions where acoustic control is important, such as in high-risk noise areas including airports and motorways. It can also be used in acoustic baffles in theatres, concert halls and recording studios where true sound reverberation is required. The Kalzip roof system was installed at Eastbrook Studios by sub-contractor FK Group. Eastbrook Studios is now open for action. A technologically advanced, film and television production centre, it offers a variety of purpose-built spaces, with 12 state-of-the-art soundstages ranging from 16,000 to 31,000 sqft, office and support space and 17 workshops, plus a 1.7-acre backlot. Located at Dagenham, it is on London’s underground network. Eastbrook Studios is operated by The MBS Group and owned by Hackman Capital Partners. One of the leading suppliers of aluminium building envelopes, Kalzip has been producing roof and façade systems since 1968 and has installed more than 100 million square metres of Kalzip profiled sheets worldwide. Euroform has been developing, fabricating and supplying materials for the construction industry since 1995. It is part of the Performance Technology Group, a group of companies supporting the construction industry to meet acoustic, fire, thermal and vibration challenges. www.euroform.co.uk www.kalzip.com www.eastbrookstudios.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Material Evolution is launching a pilot project of its ultra-low carbon cement, MevoCem, in partnership with leading building materials solutions company CRH and its UK operating company Tarmac. The pilot will demonstrate MevoCem’s performance under the new BSI Code of Practice Flex 350 which allows for the specification of a wider range of lower carbon concretes to help decarbonise construction projects. It may help provide the data necessary for Flex350 to be incorporated into the broader BS8500 concrete standard – which is equivalent to the EU’s EN206 – making it simpler to deliver projects using the latest low carbon innovations. By using proprietary alkali fusion technology to produce MevoCem, Material Evolution has eliminated the need for heat as part of the cement production process, providing an up to 85% reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to traditional cement. The project follows the selection of Material Evolution as a winner in the recent Sustainable Materials Accelerator Program, led by CRH Ventures – the venture capital unit of CRH – which identified innovative materials and applications to lower emissions, reduce waste and improve energy use across the construction sector. Liz Gilligan, CEO and co-founder of Material Evolution, said: “This partnership is a major milestone for our team, and we’re excited to deepen our relationship with CRH and Tarmac as we scale MevoCem at a commercial level. CRH’s commitment as an early adopter of our next-generation ultra-low carbon cement products is especially significant – it supports not just our growth, but the continued research required to deliver a true net zero cement alternative. “Decarbonising the construction industry is one of the most urgent environmental challenges we face. It’s only through partnerships, collaboration, and innovation with industry leaders that we can accelerate the adoption of ultra-low carbon cement across the sector.” Eduardo Gomez, head of CRH Ventures, commented: “Through our accelerator programmes CRH is supporting the delivery of market-ready innovation to our customers across the construction value chain. “Winners gain access to CRH’s extensive network and expertise to drive forward the availability of smarter solutions to support a more resilient built environment.” Josh Bennett, national technical manager for Ready-Mix at Tarmac, commented: “We are looking forward to collaborating with the team at Material Evolution to pilot the next-generation of ultra-low carbon cement products currently under development, and continuing to advance progress in the materials science of low carbon products.” As the biggest producer of low-carbon cement in the UK, Material Evolution’s Mevo A1 Production Facility in Wrexham has the capacity to produce 120,000 tonnes of MevoCem annually, making the company the largest producer of ultra-low carbon cement in the UK. To find out more about Material Evolution, visit: https://materialevolution.com/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Work began in March to demolish St Helen’s Tower, the incumbent building on the site of the planned tallest building in London, One Undershaft. This will be the tallest building to be demolished in the capital to date. Based on details shared in planning documents published by the City of London, Switzerland-based carbon removal specialist neustark calculated a ‘missed’ opportunity to reuse 49,000 tonnes of concrete aggregate removed from the site, and at the same time permanently store at least 490 tonnes of CO₂ in recycled concrete aggregate (RCA), thus permanently removing these residual emissions from the atmosphere and further supporting a circular economy within London’s construction sector – offering a significant opportunity for a permanent carbon sink. The ‘reuse’ and remove (CO₂) opportunity within London’s skyline The clear opportunity to reuse some, if not all, of the 49,000 tonnes of concrete aggregate from the demolition of St Helen’s Tower would allow it to be returned to the same site at One Undershaft, London’s newest ‘tallest building’. According to details published, One Undershaft will require 170,000 tonnes of concrete. Assuming building contractors utilise the full 20% substitution of gravel with RCA allowed by UK standards (BS8500-2) – roughly 14,000 tonnes of carbonated recycled concrete aggregate (cRCA) could be reused at the same site – which would incorporate 140 tonnes of CO₂ to be permanently stored. Under the current UK legislation, limit of 20% aggregate, this would leave a surplus of approximately 35,000 tonnes of RCA (left over from the demolition of St Helen’s Tower) and a further opportunity to sink a further 350 tonnes of CO₂ on other local building projects. Answering the call of London’s circular economy are projects such as 100 Leadenhall Street and 50 Fenchurch Street. Both projects are in pre-construction phase and have been recognised for their respective ‘green’ credentials. These projects have architects, owners, and operators who are likely to welcome the opportunity to reduce embodied carbon, a key metric used by green certification bodies such as RIBA and BREEAM. The sharp reality of the capital’s continuous evolution coupled with City of London’s goal for a greener, more environmentally sustainable Square Mile, means there will never be a shortage of building projects willing to support all avenues of green construction. However, it is legislation holding back construction businesses from reaching the potential for carbon removal and building green supply chains. UK construction needs supportive ‘green construction’ regulation in line with EU UK standards (BS8500-2), which limit recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) use to 20% in reinforced concrete, significantly constrain greener building solutions. In contrast, countries within the EU and Switzerland are allowed to use 80%+ (depending on use cases) in commercial buildings. A compelling example is the Bellis project near Zürich, a mixed-use residential and commercial development featuring 44 apartments, office and commercial space, and business apartments. Except for prefabricated elements, all concrete structures – including walls, floors, floor slabs, and ceilings – were built using cRCA. In total, 7,500 m³ of concrete incorporating cRCA was used, allowing for approximately 75 tonnes of CO₂ to be stored within the structure. Raising the limits of RCA use in line with the rest of Europe will allow London’s high-profile regeneration projects such as One Undershaft to reuse all of the demolished concrete from the incumbent building, St Helens Tower. Other landmark developments, such as Canary Wharf Group’s Wood Wharf, are already demonstrating this approach in action, where concrete from a decommissioned, 100-year-old quay nearby has been broken down and repurposed for the foundations of new residential buildings. “The UK is one of the leading countries within Europe for its efforts towards decarbonisation. However, within the construction industry, regulation and green standards are lagging behind countries such as Switzerland and Netherlands”, says Valentin Gutknecht, Founder and Co-CEO at neustark. “Updating guidelines, in line with Europe, for the use of recycled concrete for commercial construction will enable London construction firms to utilise existing waste stream, like demolition concrete, as a tool for climate action. Carbonated recycled concrete aggregate will indeed present an opportunity to turn a problem into a solution by taking one of the most essential materials for commercial construction and turning it into a carbon sink.” Building a circular economy for construction within the capital London has been a city of progress since the industrial age. It is therefore inevitable that London’s skyline will continue to evolve. With the scale of these projects expanding, it has become important that London construction firms embrace practices of the circular economy. To meet climate targets, London must invest in more local, greener supply chains and reuse demolition waste within flagship projects such as One Undershaft, Leadenhall Street and Fenchurch Street – building a more circular economy within the construction sector. “Investing in local supply chains and carbonated recycled concrete aggregate is one of the most efficient ways for London to reduce emissions from commercial construction projects. The environmental benefits are clear, and the cost-effective nature of this solution should be a significant factor in its adoption,” says Valentin. Neustark’s partnership with a leading UK supplier of sustainable building solutions established a London site supplying cRCA to firms like Canary Wharf Group for development projects around the city. cRCA is a groundbreaking material that offers a cost-effective and largely untapped solution for significantly removing the UK’s carbon emissions, as well as strengthening the circular economy by using demolished concrete – one of the largest waste streams at 1 billion tonnes per year – as a carbon sink. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Vivalda has underpinned its status as a national supplier of Cedral facades, following its extensive UK-branch network and investment in warehousing, logistics and fabrication technology. As one of the UK’s largest stockists of non-flammable facades, Vivalda is able to supply Cedral’s most popular products to contractors and merchants within just 72 hours. This development also ensures the core range of Cedral’s most popular colours (Black, Platinum Grey, Slate Grey, Steel Grey and White) are available, along with the full range of supporting accessories, for immediate collection across its branch network. Using its West Midlands headquarters as a central hub, Vivalda is also making available the full range of Cedral Click, Lap and Smooth products via its branches in Birmingham Manchester, Hull, Cheltenham, Glasgow and London – all on a five-day order cycle. Wes Hague, commercial director at Vivalda, said: “Poor product availability is one of the key frustrations faced by contractors, especially on domestic projects. That’s why we are so pleased with our ability to offer Cedral readily available and nationally – which ensures peace of mind to installers and homeowners across the UK.” Lewis Walsh, head of national accounts at Cedral UK, added: “As one of the UK’s leading brands of high-performance fibre cement cladding, we are constantly exploring ways to make life easier for installers to work with us. While we already provide seamless delivery of our range nationwide, this investment from Vivalda will make availability of our cladding boards and accessories even easier.” The UK-wide distribution deal includes all Vivalda UK branches, including BBS Facades’ outlet in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals