Question 1

What is a pre-demolition audit?

Accepted Answer

A pre-demolition audit is a survey of a building carried out before it's demolished, to catalogue its materials and identify what can be reused, reclaimed or recycled rather than sent to landfill. It produces an inventory of quantities, conditions and recommended reuse or recycling routes, and is used to support planning and BREEAM requirements.

Question 2

What's the difference between a pre-demolition and a pre-refurbishment audit?

Accepted Answer

They use the same method for different works: a pre-demolition audit covers a building being fully or largely demolished, while a pre-refurbishment audit covers refurbishment, strip-out or partial works where much of the building stays. If you're not sure which your project needs, tell us the scope and we'll advise.

Question 3

What is a Circular Economy Statement?

Accepted Answer

A Circular Economy Statement is a planning document showing how a development reduces waste and keeps materials in use across its lifecycle. Some local authorities now require one for larger schemes, and it's usually built on the data from a pre-demolition or pre-refurbishment audit.

Question 4

What is a material reuse or asset survey?

Accepted Answer

It's a focused survey of the specific materials, fixtures and components in a building that are worth reclaiming, reselling or donating, along with their condition, quantities and possible routes to reuse. It's for clients who want to capture value from what's removed, not just meet a compliance requirement.

Question 5

What is embodied carbon and why does it matter for my project?

Accepted Answer

Embodied carbon is the carbon emitted in producing, transporting and installing building materials — separate from the energy a building uses once occupied. Reusing existing materials avoids the embodied carbon of new ones, which is why audits increasingly report it and why planners and BREEAM assessors care about it.

Question 6

Do I need a pre-demolition audit for planning permission?

Accepted Answer

Increasingly, yes — a growing number of local authorities ask for a pre-demolition or pre-redevelopment audit, or a Circular Economy Statement based on one, as part of planning for demolition or major redevelopment. Requirements vary by authority, so it's worth checking early; we can tell you what your local authority expects.

Question 7

Do pre-demolition audits help with BREEAM?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A pre-demolition audit is needed to claim the BREEAM Wst 01 (Construction Waste Management) credits — up to 4 credits — by demonstrating material recovery and diversion from landfill, and it informs your Site Waste Management Plan.

Question 8

How much does a pre-demolition audit cost?

Accepted Answer

Our audits are fixed-price, so you know the cost up front rather than facing an open-ended day rate. Price depends mainly on the building's floor area and type — use our instant estimate to get an indicative range in under a minute, then a firm quote within one working day.

Question 9

How long does an audit take?

Accepted Answer

Days, not weeks. We can typically be on site quickly and return a planning-ready report in as little as 5 working days, so the audit doesn't hold up your planning or programme.

Question 10

Which areas do you cover?

Accepted Answer

We focus on Bristol, Bath, Manchester and Leeds and the surrounding areas, which keeps us fast on site and avoids long-distance travel costs. If your project is nearby, ask us — we may still be able to help.

Independent audits for every project

Why we exist

Powered by Material Index

How we work

Where we work