The Crown Estate brings low-carbon evoBuild concrete to the UK

The Crown Estate has announced that its 33-35 Piccadilly development will be the first building in the UK to use Heidelberg Materials’ evoBuild low carbon concrete: an innovative new concrete expected to cut carbon by around 35% compared with standard concrete.  

evoBuild concrete is made using cement produced with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, combined with low-carbon Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag (GGBS). Together, these materials reduce the carbon impact of the concrete while maintaining performance across the building.  

The 33-35 Piccadilly development has been designed around a carbon reduction strategy and will create 30,000 sq ft of best-in-class workplace in London’s West End. Following a redesign of its 2018 planning permission, The Crown Estate significantly increased its sustainability ambitions, reducing embodied carbon from 859kg/CO2/m² to 614-675kg/CO2/m².Through the use of revised materials, efficient structural design, circular economy principles and intelligent building systems, the project will create a highly efficient, resilient and future-ready office building. Building on these design-stage improvements, material specifications continued to be reviewed and optimised throughout construction, with one of the most significant changes being the use of evoBuild low-carbon concrete, which uses Carbon Capture and Storage Technology. This has further reduced the project's embodied carbon target to less than 515-550kg/CO₂/m².

The Crown Estate is drawing on its position as both an urban and rural landowner to support the use of responsible and sustainable materials at 33-35 Piccadilly. Kiln-dried, PEFC-certified British Oak is being supplied through The Crown Estate’s forestry management at Windsor Great Park for use in the reception area. The building’s façade will incorporate Heritage Portland Stone sourced from Albion Stone quarries – of which The Crown Estate is the freeholder – on the Isle of Portland, used in its natural form without geological classification to reduce unnecessary quarry waste.   

All together, these innovations are expected to support significant savings across both embodied and operational carbon, resulting in an upfront carbon intensity that is significantly below typical UK benchmarks, including the recently published UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard limit for new-build office developments. The project is targeting a 5* NABERS UK rating, BREEAM Outstanding, WiredScore Platinum and EPC A, and is one of only 14 properties in London to have already achieved a SmartScore Platinum certification.  

The workspace will also deliver gold standard wellness features, targeting WELL Platinum. With design focused on facilitating natural daylight, enhanced ventilation and smart building systems, the development prioritises comfort alongside efficient operation.  

33-35 Piccadilly forms part of The Crown Estate’s largest ever London development pipeline, which includes the 138,000 sq ft retrofit of New Zealand House into high-quality workplace and hospitality space, as well as more recently announced schemes at 10 Piccadilly and 21-29 Glasshouse Street. It also follows The Crown Estate’s recent acquisition of the Piccadilly Regent Estate, further strengthening its ability to take a long-term, estate-wide approach to investment and climate resilience across the West End.  

James Atherton, Development Director at The Crown Estate said: 

 “Across 33-35 Piccadilly and our wider portfolio, we are taking a holistic approach to reducing carbon, including looking at the materials and construction methods we use to deliver high-quality workplace. This is central to our ongoing long-term work to create a more future-ready West End. We are delighted to be working with Heidelberg Materials UK and the wider project team to bring an innovative lower-carbon concrete solution to the UK for the first time.” 

 Phillip Rice, Concrete Key Account Manager at Heidelberg Materials UK, said:  

“The project at 33-35 Piccadilly is set to be an exemplar in sustainable redevelopment. Through collaboration with The Crown Estate, Keir and Realtime Civil Engineering we were able to offer an innovative concrete solution that met the rigorous demands of the project while minimising its carbon impact.” 

 Graham Potts, Regional Director, Kier Construction London & Thames Valley, said: 

 “33-35 Piccadilly is the latest example in our growing commercial portfolio in London and highlights the value of embedding carbon considerations from the outset and maintaining that focus throughout delivery. Through our strong partnership with The Crown Estate and Heidelberg Materials UK, and by combining our in-house design and engineering expertise, we’re proud to introduce this lower-carbon concrete solution to the UK for the first time. This innovative approach enables us to closely monitor and reduce carbon throughout the project lifecycle while helping meet growing demand for lower-carbon, cost-efficient buildings.”  

The project has been designed by architect DSDHA, with Kier as the main construction contractor and Realtime Civil Engineering also forming part of the project team.