Embodied Carbon and the Circular Economy: Analysing UK Planning Systems and Policy

Planning policy provides an untapped means to reduce built environment embodied carbon through mechanisms such as adopting circular economy principles. This study analysed 4,353 relevant core planning documents published by UK Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) as of 2024, generating over 180 graphs and assessing phrase use to explore the design and uptake of different policies.

The analysis provides insight into policies proposed and implemented across the UK, alongside leading LPA examples, showing frequent references to key concepts, but limited implementation of measurable policy. The research identified a range of discourse and policy trends and provides a critical foundation for establishing impactful policy recommendations.