Scales of circularity: building towards a renewable London

Half-day conference

Monday 04 September 2023
09:00 - 12:00

How circular is London today? Join NLA to investigate and discover which principles we need to embrace to build towards a sustainable future.

The 2021 London Plan defines a circular economy as ‘one where materials are retained in use at their highest value for as long as possible and are then re-used or recycled, leaving a minimum of residual waste.’ In July of this year, NLA launched Circular London: building a renewable city. This report is a call to action, featuring strategies, challenges and case studies that share best practice. The projects rethink modern methods of construction, utilise tools and guidance, and make efficient use of energy and low-carbon recycled materials, while pushing the boundaries, to build a circular city.

Construction has a vital role to play; around 40 per cent of raw materials are consumed globally by the built environment. Within London, there has been important progression towards a circular future. The Greater London Authority now requires Circular Economy Statements for all referable projects, as set out in London Plan Guidance – Circular Economy Statements issued in March 2022. How can we build upon the 2022 legislation and continue to take collective responsibility to encourage best practice and innovation within the sector?

This half-day conference will ask, just how circular is London today? We will examine this question by discussing current policies, guidance and tools. Through the exploration of flagship projects, submitted to the Circular London: building a renewable city report, we will discover how circularity and retrofit are being employed in London today. Finally, we will discuss a city-wide circular call to action – can the built environment work towards better collaboration and cultural change?

Programme coming soon