We are pioneering low‑carbon construction at scale, integrating advanced concrete technologies and prefabrication to dramatically reduce embodied carbon in major developments.
At Solar (NE02), we have taken a major step forward in sustainable construction, setting a new benchmark for low‑carbon delivery across large‑scale Build‑to‑Rent housing. As part of the North East Lands masterplan, Solar, developed alongside Luna (NE03), reflects our ambition to significantly reduce embodied carbon while maintaining design quality and engineering performance.
A core element of this achievement is our use of advanced low‑carbon concrete technologies. Working with John Sisk & Son, we undertook a construction demonstrator programme directly on the NE02/NE03 site to test ACT, Ecocem’s next‑generation cement technology. These trials showed that ACT could reduce typical concrete emissions of 270–300 kgCO₂e/m³ to as low as 77 kgCO₂e/m³, achieving more than 70% carbon savings while still meeting all conventional engineering requirements. Research partners—including Ramboll, Loughborough University, Creagh Concrete and Capital Concrete—validated its performance, giving us the confidence to adopt it in Solar’s final construction.
We also integrated prefabricated concrete façades engineered to minimise embodied carbon. Designed with specialist manufacturers, these façades helped us achieve nearly a 50% reduction in embodied carbon compared to our 2020 schemes, with Solar reaching 473 kgCO₂/m² (RICS A1–A5). This was enabled through a fabric‑first strategy, DfMA principles, improved standardisation and optimised geometry.
Solar is the first project delivered under our 2025 sustainability commitments, requiring strict measurement and reporting from early design. The building meets both our internal embodied‑carbon targets and the UK Net Zero Buildings Standard, saving more than 16,500 tonnes of CO₂ compared with legacy schemes.
