Circular Economy Construction Hub Newham
<p>As the UK faces a deep recession, austerity is again set to bite and London’s boroughs face a £700m budget shortfall in the next financial year, what then is the relevance of sustainability and the circular economy? This is a particularly urgent question in a borough like Newham, the second most deprived in London and disproportionately affected by climate change and poor air quality but – importantly – one in which new construction and development projects have been rolling out at pace and scale since the Olympics in 2012.</p> <p>This report, commissioned by the London Borough of Newham, reveals the potential of a circular economy as a route to responding to the climate emergency while creating new job opportunities, building community resilience and helping to grow a local economy in which everyone can participate.</p> <p>It is a compelling case for developing a circular economy construction hub within the borough outlining both the business and environmental benefits that could be realised. The initial recommendation is for a ‘circular starter hub’ – a place where locally recruited people will refurbish, process and distribute a wide range of reused construction materials and receive training across a variety of manual and digital skills required for a career in the sector. This is proposed as the first iteration of the hub, which would lead on to a much more ambitious circular catalyst, offer a wider range of services and even more community benefits…</p>
Authors: Arup, Material Cultures
Graphic Designer: Villalba Studio
Part of: Material Cultures Reports