BuildZero project will assess viability of circular construction

Led by Sheffield University, the project will aim to deliver national and regional insights into the best use of existing buildings and waste materials. BuildZero will assess if these resources are able to meet the UK’s building needs, targeting zero new material extraction, zero emissions and zero waste.

Alongside Sheffield, the five-year study will harness expertise from the universities of Bath, Manchester, Cardiff and Cambridge, as well as industrial partners. The £6m project is supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

“This funding is an exciting opportunity to explore if, and under what timeframes, a circular economy can be achieved for the UK’s building stock, whilst meeting essential societal needs,” said project leader Dr Danielle Densley Tingley, senior lecturer in Architectural Engineering at Sheffield University.

“We will be working in close collaboration with industry partners to support changes in practice and help catalyse the shift to a widespread circular economy in the built environment.”