At Circle Development, carbon isn’t just a consideration, it’s a core value. Our approach to managing and reducing carbon is built on deep technical expertise, a genuine responsibility to the planet, and an unwavering commitment to detail. Through rigorous Lifecycle Carbon Assessments and transparent carbon tracking, we empower our clients to make informed, future-focused decisions that balance environmental goals with project viability.
This isn’t just sustainability talk; it’s sustainability in action.
Beech Street a carbon conscious development
Hub, in partnership with Bridge Fund Management Ltd’s, are delivering 45 Beech Street, also known as Cornerstone. This project perfectly illustrates how a carbon-conscious approach can redefine urban living. Circle Development is overseeing the adaptive reuse of this former office building, delivering 174 co-living homes on the edge of the Barbican estate.
We serve as both Quantity Surveyor and Contract Administrator and Carbon Managers. We’re leading the Lifecycle Carbon Assessment for the project, presenting robust data to the City of London to support the planning application and demonstrate the value of a reuse-first strategy.
- 35% less embodied carbon than a new build alternative
- 1,700,000 kgCO₂e saved by retaining the existing building structure
- 1,400 family cars worth of annual emissions saved
- 41% operational carbon savings over a 60-year period,
totalling 4,300,000 kgCO₂e - BREEAM Excellent and EPC A targeted
Working alongside Redhammer Demolition Ltd, we prioritise sorting and recycling materials with a goal of 100% reuse or recycling. But it’s about more than recycling; it’s about rethinking. Carpet tiles and raised access flooring are being rehomed, some within our own projects, others offered to collaborators.
This focus on reuse and material lifecycle also informs our other projects, such as Trehus, our low-carbon timber-framed office building in Maidenhead, where we’re pioneering design for disassembly and long-term circularity.
Decision-making by design
Our work at Beech Street extends well beyond planning submissions. We use a carbon movements tracker, updated fortnightly alongside cost trackers, allowing the design team to make proactive, carbon-informed decisions. These tools enable us to manage cost and carbon as interconnected drivers, not conflicting ones.
Our assessments are compliant with RICS standards and feed into BREEAM Man 02 and broader sustainability strategies. Through this method, we’re aiming to meet the GLA Aspirational A1-A5 embodied carbon target, which is no small feat in a dense urban context.
By combining retained elements, smart material choices, and design efficiency, we’re reshaping what it means to build sustainably in London.
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Lakeside Drive sustainability without compromise
At 1 Lakeside Drive in Park Royal, we brought the same carbon-conscious mindset to the table. Here, a 300,000 sq ft former Diageo HQ is being transformed into a 433-room lifestyle hotel, guided by the vision of LSL Partners and Central & Provincial Partners.
Rather than demolishing, the project chose reuse, with compelling results:
- 36% greater carbon efficiency compared to new-build residential
- 6,570 tonnes of CO₂e saved
- equivalent to 15,981 flights to New York
- or the annual emissions of 6,570 family cars
We evaluated three development pathways: full demolition, residential conversion, and hotel repurposing. Our analysis made it clear—retention for hotel use wasn’t just feasible, it was the most sustainable option.
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Our carbon philosophy, in practice
Carbon is one of the most complex and critical challenges in the built environment, it is responsible for around 40% of the UK’s total emissions. At Circle, we’re helping our clients tackle that challenge with clarity.
We blend cost, carbon, and construction knowledge into a unified, actionable roadmap. Our Life Cycle Costing (LCC) and Life Cycle Carbon Assessments (LCA) don’t just tick a compliance box, they shape strategy.
Looking ahead
At Circle, our promise is simple: to deliver projects that matter—for people, place, and planet. The numbers are compelling, but it’s the principles behind them that drive us.
We simplify complexity, realise our clients’ visions, and deliver carbon conscious developments for the future, always with care, precision, and purpose. Our team keeps clients’ best interests at heart, maximising efficiency and minimising risk, while staying agile, curious, and committed to progress.
From Beech Street to Lakeside Drive and beyond, we’ll continue to lead with transparency, humility, and a deep respect for the carbon challenge ahead.
