Circular Economy Statements (CE statements)

 IN COMPLIANCE WITH GLA LONDON PLAN

Keeping ‘waste’ materials at their highest value reduces construction costs, the embodied carbon cost of a project and, by implication, environmental impact.

Six circular economy principles are fundamental to achieving this:

1. Build in layers – so that different parts of the building are accessible and can be maintained and replaced independently of the others.

2. Design out waste – so that waste reduction is part of every decision from project inception to completion. This includes considering the use of standardised components, modular construction, and the reuse of secondary products and materials.

3. Design for longevity.

4. Design for adaptability or flexibility.

5. Design for disassembly.

6. Use systems, elements or materials that can be reused and recycled.

In GLA London Plan policy SI7 ‘Reducing waste and supporting the Circular Economy’, ​​​​The Mayor of London sets out a policy framework that supports the delivery of a circular built environment. This includes a requirement that referrable development proposalsReference: include a CE statement with the planning application.

The CE statement is a detailed appraisal of how material on a project site can be retained in use at their highest value for as long as possible, and then reused or recycled, leaving a minimum of residual waste.

How can ADW Developments assist?

We provide bespoke guidance and solutions for project teams by determining and quantifying the circular potential of their project, supporting them to meet GLA’s requirements for the CE statement.

We will:

• Engage with all key stakeholders prior to concept design stages to guarantee that a well-defined sustainability vision for the scheme has been agreed.
• Identify the potential strategies and approaches that enable individual developments to be circular.
• Provide quantitative targets for material use, recycled content, recycling, and diversion of waste from landfill to facilitate evidence-based performance.
• Identify opportunities for the application of circular economy principles, therefore promoting whole-life efficiencies in the scheme.

CE statements: Compliance and Project Value Realisation

Through the appraisal process and preparation of the CE statement, we present comprehensive approaches, strategies, and opportunities for the project team to achieve greater circularity.

Through this investigative and reflective process, the scheme will make better use of materials on site, and effectively exploit available design opportunities to retain key constituent materials at their highest value throughout design, build, operation, and disassembly.

A detailed CE statement is critical not only to demonstrate compliance with GLA’s progressive planning requirements, but also to identify specific solutions for the longevity, durability, and modularity of proposed schemes and their built assets, enhancing long-term value for the projects’ triple-bottom line.