ASBP introduced The ASBP Reusable Buildings Network at Resource/Ecobuild; March 8-10th, 2016.
ASBP is today commencing an Innovate UK study: Circular Economy Business Models; Reuse of Structural Steel within Construction. The aim of the project is to work with Cleveland Steel and Tubes Ltd to assess the market for steel reuse; they currently supply excess oil and gas pipeline into the construction industry. The project will examine how Cleveland Steel might diversify into reused steel sourced from buildings to be demolished and create a business model to access this market.
We have identified many barriers to more steel reuse, currently at 7%; no barrier on its own is insurmountable, but to overcome them all, will require a collaborative approach. It is proposed that Cleveland Steel and Tubes might support this process through a new Network and so we are trialing this to understand the costs and benefits arising.
Why is ASBP working on this?
Reused steel has 4% of the environmental impact of new steel (BRE, 2002)
Reused steel should offer cost savings
Plus additional social value: job creation, training, skills, knowledge sharing, learning, keeping material flows local
Overcoming the barriers to reuse:
The main barriers can be summarised as:
No client has ever asked for this
Lack of regulatory drivers
No demand therefore no supply
CE marking – barrier or opportunity?
The ASBP Reusable Buildings Network will begin to address these barriers in the following way:
We will create a client facing document on the benefits of retention and reuse and the circular economy.
A workshop on 24th May with local authorities and the Network to consider the potential for planning guidance to encourage reuse and the circular economy. The Network will continue to provide input over the duration of the project.
Innovate UK project 132106 led by SCI, is examining the feasibility of a web-based portal to match supply and demand.
We will create a discussion piece around CE marking with a view to creating a campaign. Roy Fishwick, Cleveland Steel and Tubes has identified this as a real threat to reuse.
Project Collaborators: Ellis and Moore, Cleveland Steel and Tubes, Steel Construction Institute
Wider team; UCL, University of Cambridge, University of Sheffield, Cullinan Studios, NFDC
In collaboration with Forum for the Future
Forum for the Future: Key insights – Enabling the Circular Economy
Technology and design alone won’t get us there
There is a need to transition to new business models
It’s your value network that matters
It is proposed that the core of the Reusable Buildings Network might be comprised of the following. Please note, this list is indicative only.
Local authorities: Islington, Lewisham, Peterborough, Nottingham
Value: Knowledge sharing and input into effective policy making to encourage low embodied carbon buildings, reuse, flexible life buildings and enabling the circular economy
Client Groups: SEGRO, British Land, Argent, HS2, Prologis UK
Value: Demonstrating leadership, overcoming barriers and knowledge sharing
Demolition Contractors; NFDC, Keltbray
Value: Kick-starting a market for reuse would improve income streams. Deconstruction is a higher value contract.
Architects: Cullinan Studio, Fielden Clegg Bradley, Architype
Value: Work with the demolition industry to develop your approach to designing for reuse
Academics: University of Cambridge, UCL, University of Sheffield
Value: Engaging and sharing knowledge with the construction supply network
Contractors: Skanska
Value: Developing skills and knowledge and input into effective policy making
Structural Engineers: Ellis and Moore
Suppliers: Cleveland Steel and Tubes Ltd, Nomas
Wider Network
UKGBC, RICS, ISE, RIBA, SCI, Concrete Centre, Norwegian Steel Association
The Reusable Buildings Network will be hosted by ASBP. We will meet twice in May and September. In July, we will issue a report into the multiple barriers that need to be overcome to enable reuse, the business case, client benefits, approaches to the numbers and a snap shot of the steel market.
ASBP will prepare 3 case studies on new business models and approaches; for consideration are:
Servitisation: Pay per Lux Phillips/NUS
Demountable Housing: PLACE/Ladywell with Lewisham Council
Designing to enable reuse: DELTA Developments/ World Steel
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