Regulation 19 Rutland Local Plan
Embodied Carbon
A significant proportion of a building's lifetime carbon impact is locked into its fabric and systems. This is known as Embodied Carbon means all the carbon dioxide (and other greenhouse gases) emitted in producing, transporting, constructing, using, and disposing of materials. In the case of buildings this means all the emissions from the sourcing and transportation of building materials, the construction of the building itself, its fixtures, and fittings and, finally, the deconstruction and disposal at the end of a building's lifetime. The vast majority of this embodied carbon is 'up-front,' that is, it is associated with all stages up to the completion of the building. A smaller share of the whole-life embodied carbon comes from maintenance and refurbishment across the building's lifetime, and the eventual demolition and disposal. Inherent in contributing towards reducing a development's embodied carbon is its location in terms of utilising existing infrastructure and thereby the delivery of sustainable development, one of the key Strategic Objectives in the Local Plan. The Spatial Strategy policies in the Local Plan seek to meet this Strategic Objective.
What will the policy do?
Policy CC5 - Embodied Carbon Comment
All development should, where practical and viable, take opportunities to reduce the development's embodied carbon content, through the careful choice, use and sourcing of materials.
To avoid the wastage of embodied carbon in existing buildings and avoid the creation of new embodied carbon for replacement buildings, there is a presumption in favour of repairing, refurbishing, re-using, and re-purposing existing buildings over their demolition. Proposals that result in the demolition of a building (in whole or a significant part) should be accompanied by a full justification for the demolition.
Why is this policy needed?
The embodied carbon of a building typically makes up a majority share of the total carbon impact across that building's lifetime, for example the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has found that embodied carbon make up between 67% and 76% of buildings' total carbon emissions depending on the type of building. Clearly this must be addressed in order to fully respond to the climate emergency (especially as the share of embodied emissions that occur within the UK must be reduced in line with the UK's carbon reduction targets). Yet currently, embodied carbon is not addressed by any part of Building Regulations – there is currently no regulatory incentive for new development to reduce its embodied carbon whether through material selection, product sourcing, material-efficient design, or other means. There is therefore a need for local plan policy to respond specifically to this issue in order to fulfil the local plan's duty to mitigate climate change.
Addressing embodied carbon can provide cost-effective potential for carbon savings and cost savings over and above those traditionally targeted through operational savings. There is a significant opportunity to reduce the carbon impact of new development. The Design Guidelines for Rutland SPD (2021) and the LETI Climate Emergency Design Guide (2020) both provide further guidance, including examples, on reducing embodied carbon.
Reductions in embodied carbon are also not subject to ongoing building user behaviour in the way that operational carbon savings are. As a result, embodied carbon benefits can be more accurate, certain, and identifiable than predicted operational carbon reductions, particularly when the final occupant of the building is not known at the time.
Embodied carbon savings made during the design and construction stage are also delivered immediately. This contrasts with operational emissions savings which are delivered over time in the future. Given the long lifetime of CO2 in the atmosphere over which period its climate warming effect builds up and given the risk of reaching 'climate tipping points' or feedback loops triggering runaway climate change, the environmental value of a kilogram of CO2 saved today may well have a greater environmental value than a kilogram saved in say 10 or 20 years' time.
To make reductions in embodied carbon fewer materials need to be used more efficiently and the carbon content of the construction materials that are used needs to be reduced. Increasing the use of low-carbon materials, such as home-grown timber, is important and the Government's 25-year Environment Plan aims to support 'Grown in Britain' by increasing the amount of home-grown timber used in England in construction, creating a 'conveyor belt of locked-in carbon in homes and buildings.'
Embodied carbon reduction can also contribute to other sustainability targets and priorities. For example, use of recycled content, recyclability of building materials, and reduced waste materials to landfill can all result from a focus on reducing embodied carbon and also contribute to waste reduction targets in line with Policy CC1.
Similarly, benefits to the local community can accrue from cleaner fabrication processes which mitigate the impact of the development site on the local area; the use of more local sourcing and local supply chains can also support jobs; and the economy in the local area (or if not local, then at regional or national level).
Supporting Evidence
Climate change evidence base
Zero Carbon Policy Options for Net Zero Carbon Developments A Climate Change Legislation (July 2023)
Zero Carbon Policy Options for Net Zero Carbon Developments B(i) Carbon Reduction (July 2023)
Zero Carbon Policy Options for Net Zero Carbon Developments B(ii) Risk Matrix (July 2023)
