Pre-Redevelopment Audits
Pre-Redevelopment Audits for Circular Construction
A Pre-redevelopment Audit is carried out by a third-party at pre-application stage to inform whether existing buildings, structures and materials can be retained, reclaimed, refurbished, or incorporated into the new development.
What is a Pre-redevelopment Audit?
Conducted early in the design process (at the pre-application stage) the PRDA provides a robust, independently verified analysis of the potential to reuse or adapt existing assets prior to considering substantial demolition.
The pre-redevelopment audit serves as a key evidence base for circular economy strategies, requiring applicants to demonstrate in the ‘circular economy principles’ table the principles that will be adopted and the reasons behind them.
The PRDA supports applicants in outlining how the proposal will design out waste, by reducing waste, treating waste materials as resources, and managing them across each life-cycle module.
When is a Pre-Redevelopment Audit Required?
If there are existing buildings on a site, a third-party, independently verified or peer-reviewed pre-redevelopment audit is strongly encouraged, including analysis that fully explores options for retaining existing structures, materials and the fabric of existing buildings into the new development; and the potential to refurbish buildings before considering substantial demolition.
Applicants should complete and submit a pre-redevelopment audit as supporting evidence to their CE statements.
PRDAs for Planning Approvals
With the Material Index PRDA, "all went well and planning was approved."
Project Manager, Gardiner & Theobald
PRDAs are required across London, particularly in key boroughs such as Westminster, Camden, and The City of London, where emerging retrofit-first and GLA circular economy policies are placing greater emphasis on material retention and reuse.
How a Pre-Redevelopment Audit Supports Circular Design
A pre-redevelopment audit is a critical first step in delivering a circular design strategy for any redevelopment project. It identifies the materials, components, and systems already present in a building and evaluates their condition and potential for reuse — both on-site and off-site.
By integrating this process early, developers and architects can design with reuse in mind, supporting environmental goals and meeting emerging planning requirements.
The benefits of getting a PRDA early are:
- Supports material retention and reuse
- Maps reusable materials before demolition or deconstruction
- Informs circular economy statements
- Reduces embodied carbon
- Improves waste management and diversion from landfill rates
- Enables low-carbon design decisions early
Pre-Redevelopment Audit vs Pre-Demolition Audit
Material Index completes both PRDAs and PDA using our digital platform, where we provide live and robust analysis that explores options for retaining or reclaiming the existing structure, material and the fabric of the existing building into the new development including:
- Estimation of types and amounts of materials surveyed through Material Index proprietary platform
- Full asset inventory
- Assessment of suitability of products for retention, reuse and recycling
A collaborative digital audit on the MI platform
Get started with a PRDA.
Discsover retention and reuse opportunities immediately.
Email: audits@material-index.co.uk