The facility is intended to increase the reuse and recycling of construction materials and reduce waste sent to landfill.
Welcoming the launch, London mayor Sadiq Khan said the facility would play a key role in supporting the capital’s ambition to become a zero-carbon city by 2030.
Khan commented: “We are not only cutting carbon emissions, but are also creating new jobs and homes for Londoners as we build a greener and fairer city for everyone.”
The hub is the first phase of a wider Circular Economy Village planned for the Royal Docks area in the London Borough of Newham. When fully operational, it is expected to become the largest circular construction hub in Europe.
Delivered in collaboration with the charity Tipping Point East and Newham Council, the project will be hosted on land owned by the Greater London Authority.
Materials reuse and low-carbon construction
The hub will aim to keep construction products and materials in circulation through refurbishment, reuse and recycling, supporting a circular economy approach where resources are used for as long as possible and waste is minimised.
Construction activities account for around 62% of the UK’s total waste output. The construction, demolition and excavation sector generates more than 100 million tonnes of waste each year, with over five million tonnes still sent to landfill despite relatively high recycling rates.
Developers say the facility will also support the delivery of new housing in the Royal Docks by promoting innovative construction techniques that reduce carbon emissions and material waste.
This includes the Lendlease-led Silvertown development, which has planning approval for 7,000 homes, with a target that at least 30% will be affordable housing. The scheme is backed by The Crown Estate and Newham Council.
The Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz, added: “By transforming how we build, we aren’t just reducing waste, we are also pioneering our ‘just transition’ impact through the creation of green jobs and delivery of high-quality, sustainable homes our residents deserve and can afford.”
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