BREEAM
Pre-Demolition Audits
Maximising material recovery and supporting BREEAM Wst 01 compliance before demolition begins.
What Is a Pre-Demolition Audit?
A Pre-Demolition Audit assesses a building before demolition to identify materials that can be reused, recycled, or recovered, rather than sent to landfill. It quantifies the waste likely to arise from demolition and sets out how it can best be managed in line with the waste hierarchy.
Pre-Demolition Audits are a requirement of BREEAM Wst 01 (Construction Waste Management), and also support Circular Economy Statements required by the Greater London Authority and other planning authorities.
Why a Pre-Demolition Audit Is Required
- Required wherever existing buildings, structures, or hard surfaces are present on a development site
- A prerequisite for securing BREEAM Wst 01 Construction Waste Management credits
- Increasingly required as part of planning submissions, particularly Circular Economy Statements in London
- Informs the project's Resource Management Plan (RMP), which has replaced the traditional Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) under many BREEAM schemes
Where Pre-Demolition Audits Apply
- BREEAM New Construction and Refurbishment & Fit-Out assessments requiring Wst 01 credits
- Circular Economy Statements for GLA and London borough planning submissions
- Projects involving full or partial demolition of existing structures
What Our Audit Covers
- Site survey and assessment of the building's structural and non-structural materials
- Material inventory, categorising items as suitable for reuse, recycling, or as waste
- Feasibility analysis of reuse and recycling options, including cost-benefit considerations
- A demolition bill of quantities, identifying tonnages and potential applications of materials arising from demolition
- Recommendations for material segregation, considering contamination risk and recovery value
- Input to support the project's Resource Management Plan and BREEAM assessment
Our Pre-Demolition Audit Process
Step 1
Site
Survey
We inspect the building to identify structural and non-structural materials present.
Step 2
Material Inventory & Categorisation
We classify materials as reusable, recyclable, or waste, in line with the waste hierarchy.
Step 3
Feasibility Analysis
We assess the practicality and cost-effectiveness of reuse and recycling options for the materials identified.
Step 4
Audit
Report
We compile our findings into a report providing actionable recommendations, quantities, and evidence to support your BREEAM assessment and planning submission.
Need a Pre-Demolition Audit?
If your project requires a Pre-Demolition Audit to support a BREEAM assessment or planning submission, Gravitas Logistics & Planning can prepare the audit and supporting documentation you need.