Brent Cross Town has become the first residential development in the UK to use calcined clay concrete in permanent works, marking a major step forward for low-carbon construction and sustainable building practices.
The innovation was used in the construction of a suspended slab within the development’s third Build-to-Rent building in North London.
Contractor Midgard replaced 30% of the cement in the concrete mix with calcined clay, achieving a 10% reduction in embodied carbon compared with traditional concrete previously used on the site.
Concrete production remains one of the largest contributors to global carbon emissions, with cement manufacturing responsible for around 8% of human-caused CO2 emissions worldwide.
Industry leaders believe wider adoption of calcined clay concrete could significantly reduce emissions across the construction sector while supporting the circular economy.
The material supplied by Capital Concrete incorporated calcined clay from LKAB Minerals, using damaged waste bricks as part of the production process.
Tim Hoyland, Environment Manager at Related Argent, said: “This material is a practical alternative to traditional cement replacement, enabling the industry to significantly reduce carbon emissions, support job creation and the circular economy.”
Barnet Council said the project supports wider ambitions to create a net zero borough by 2042.
Brent Cross Town is being developed as a new low-carbon neighbourhood, with more than 2,000 residents already living on the site and thousands of additional homes planned during future phases.
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