Lifecycle carbon assessments driving sustainable development in Camden
Following the provision of a detailed whole lifecycle carbon assessment (WLCA) and report by Whitecode Consulting, developer Arada London implemented significant carbon-saving initiatives to reduce operational carbon emissions by 25.18 kgCO2/m2 at its new Chalk Farm Road development in Camden.
The new mixed-use project saw the design and construction of three new mixed-use buildings next to the area’s most renowned live performance venue – The Roundhouse. Varying in height, from six to 12 storeys, the four new blocks included 264 Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) dwellings – including 24 at affordable rates intended for the London School of Economics, 30 affordable homes and 7,750 sq. ft. of ground floor commercial space.
With Arada London keen to mitigate the environmental impacts of its new three building development in the hope of achieving WELL Platinum accreditation, WiredScore Platinum and BREEAM Outstanding, it tasked Whitecode Consulting with undertaking a comprehensive whole lifecycle carbon assessment (WLCA).
Having worked with Whitecode Consulting before, the developer was well aware of the sustainability consultants’ ability to devise proven carbon-saving initiatives and provide the advice and support it would need to shape the design of not only the MEP services but also the building itself.
With that in mind, Whitecode Consulting was brought into the project at the earliest possible opportunity. While being able to engage with the critical design decisions and undertake a WLCA at such an early stage of the project was critical for the project’s success, it also presented some substantial challenges.
Working alongside the developer, and architects DSDHA, Whitecode Consulting undertook a comprehensive WLCA, assessing the building’s operational carbon emissions – both regulated and unregulated, its embodied carbon emissions and any future potential carbon emissions ‘benefits’, such as benefits from reuse and the recycling of building structure and materials.
As a result of the detailed whole lifecycle carbon assessment and accompanying report, the project’s design team committed to several carbon saving initiatives, such as utilising low-carbon concrete in the construction of the building structure, reusing the existing Terrazzo tiles and other materials and specifying a lower refrigerant in building services. Consequently, the client was able to achieve an operational carbon reduction of 25.18 kgCO2/m2.
This was particularly critical, given the London Plan’s mandates that all planning applications calculate and reduce both embodied and operational carbon emissions across a building’s entire lifespan. Similarly, the developer’s reuse of existing materials helped prove a focus on ensuring a circular economy, further demonstrating compliance with these stringent regulations.
Arada London’s Pre-Construction Director, Graeme Whyte, highlighted the importance of having access to the most up-to-date, trusted and accurate carbon assessments. He said: “We have worked with Whitecode Consulting before so had absolutely no hesitation in requesting their assistance on this project. Their whole lifecycle carbon assessment gave us the necessary information we needed to implement a whole host of carbon-saving initiatives – leading to us achieving a very significant reduction in operational carbon emissions.
“As a result, we were able to demonstrate that the Chalk Farm Road project would perform well against Greater London Authority whole life carbon targets.”
The development is due to complete in 2028.
