Developers must be incentivised to reduce embodied carbon right from the start of projects if the UK is to make significant progress towards its net zero-carbon commitments, a leading architect has said.

Statutory pressure should be imposed at national level through a mechanism such as the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to create clarity and a level playing field, said Jerry Tate, founder of sustainability specialist Tate Harmer.

While strides have been made to reduce buildings’ operational carbon, the focus on embodied carbon is lagging, he said in a talk at Assemble Media Group’s Net Zero Live event. Now was the moment to enshrine targets in law, since ministers are redrafting the planning white paper, he said.

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