London Councils group publishes guide to reduce embodied carbon in new homes

Local authorities coalition London Councils has published a new guide to help borough planning teams to reduce embodied carbon in new housing.

The guide, produced in partnership with Enfield Council, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and Westminster City Council, is designed to support boroughs in ‘making informed decisions about the materials and construction methods used in new homes.’

The group notes that embodied carbon, the emissions locked into building materials and construction processes, can account for around half of a new home’s lifetime carbon footprint.

It said:

As London boroughs work to deliver significant growth in housebuilding over the coming decade, the guide sets out how lower-carbon approaches to construction can be part of that delivery.”

The guide sets out practical steps, including the appropriate use of lower-carbon materials such as timber and stone; smarter design approaches that reduce overall material use; and modern methods of construction to cut waste. It includes case studies from across London and the UK, along with a review of available tools and benchmarks and a set of actions boroughs can take within the existing planning frameworks.

London Councils concludes:

Individual boroughs remain best-placed to determine their own priorities and approaches. This guide is intended as an informative resource to support those decisions…”