What is a Pre-deconstruction or Pre-demolition Audit (PDA)?

Pre-deconstruction audits or Pre-demolition audits (PDAs) are surveys undertaken prior to deconstruction, refurbishment, major redevelopment or full demolition. The audit is undertaken by a third-party independent specialist to review all existing buildings, structures, hard surfaces and FF&E within the scope of the demolition, refurbishment or fit-out zone.

What is the aim of a Pre-Deconstruction Audit?

A Material Index PDA provides a full catalogue of components and materials present in the existing building. It includes key product information, associated embodied carbon and whether they are suitable for reclamation through reuse on or off-site.

Pre-deconstruction audits promote resource efficiency throughout the deconstruction phase. A more detailed audit minimises the environmental impact of construction work by diverting waste away from landfill as part of a Circular Economy. The Circular Economy follows the waste hierarchy, placing primary emphasis on retaining, reusing or recycling materials prior to demolition or redevelopment for as long as possible.

Other terms that may refer to a PDA: Pre-deconstruction audits, pre-refurbishment audits, materials audits, reclamation audits.

When do I need a Pre-deconstruction Audit?

Projects submitting GLA Circular Economy Statements as part of a planning application within the GLA are strongly encouraged to submit an independent pre-deconstruction audit at pre-application stage. See: GLA CE Guidance, Section 4.6

Projects aiming for Wst01 credits under BREEAM New Construction or BREEAM Refurbishment and Fitout are encouraged to complete a PDA at the Concept Design Stage (equivalent to RIBA stage 2) prior to strip-out or demolition works.

All our material audits are aimed at enabling reuse at scale. These include:

• Fast, accurate and detailed Pre-Deconstruction Audits, Pre-Demolition Audits (PDAs) and Pre-Refurbishment Audits to meet BREEAM and GLA requirements
• Rapid Material Reclamation Audits focusing on the materials that can be donated or sold for reuse off-site
• Pre-Redevelopment Audits (PRDAs) to contribute towards Circular Economy Statements, particularly to meet planning requirements in London Boroughs such as Westminster and The City of London
• Materials Passports generation at project completion to enable future reuse
• Bespoke reporting tailored to company wide circularity targets and metrics

Who completes the Pre-Deconstruction Site Survey?

All of our audits are undertaken by independent, qualified experts in material reuse with backgrounds in the built environment. Every audit includes a detailed visual inspection, supported by an analysis of existing records on the building. This information is hosted in our platform to provide a comprehensive catalogue of building materials and components. The online MI Platform hosts a Materials Exchange to enable the reuse of construction materials at scale and to reclaim value.

Environmental Reporting

Our Audit reports are granular and digital, enabling the project team to interrogate all available reuse options, facilitating maximum reuse and providing accurate environmental reporting aligned to industry standards.

To achieve this it is critical to have easy access to the right data.

Our audits provide detailed analysis of the embodied carbon of materials and components in your building or portfolio, accessed through our platform at the click of a button. We can also provide a residual valuation alongside deconstruction advice and reuse pathways for your whole catalogue.

We meet the criteria for BREEAM environmental certification (BREEAM Wst01). An audit through us can help you achieve up to 4 BREEAM credits for Construction Waste Reduction, increasing construction resource efficiency and diverting resources from landfill.

We also meet the requirements of the Greater London Authority’s Circular Economy Statements, and we can provide data according to European Waste Codes, BREEAM waste codes, Uniclass component codes, according to building shearing layers.

Meet Policy Requirements with Confidence

Pre-Deconstruction or Pre-Demolition audits are required across London, particularly in Boroughs such as Westminster, The City of London, Camden and Islington where policy and Supplementary Planning Guidance promote a Retrofit First approach. This approach is making retention and reuse more mainstream and necessary within construction.

Project Managers, Contractors and Developers looking to secure planning for projects within these areas know that a pre-demolition, pre-deconstruction or pre-redevelopment audit completed at RIBA STAGE 0-3 helps increase reuse, minimise waste and promote the Circular Economy across projects.

London Policy and Compliance

Our audits support compliance with both current and upcoming requirements, including:

• Greater London Authority (GLA) Circular Economy Statement Guidance
• London Plan Policy SI 7: Circular Economy
• SI 2: Whole Life-Cycle Carbon Assessment
• Acknowledgment of Westminster’s Retrofit First Policy (emerging)

With growing pressure to reduce construction waste and carbon, local authorities are increasingly requiring robust material audits as part of planning applications, feasibility studies, and redevelopment approvals.