Brent Cross Town has become the first place in the UK to use a lower‑carbon form of concrete in a residential building, marking a major milestone in helping the neighbourhood become more environmentally friendly and leading the way in greener construction.

Known as calcined clay concrete, this new concrete material replaces 30% of a traditional cement mix with clay. This creates a more sustainable alternative that has already led to a 10% reduction in embodied carbon, compared with the concrete previously used at the development. By comparison, traditional concrete relies heavily on cement, which is responsible for around 8% of global carbon emissions.

Calcined clay also makes better use of natural resources and helps reduce waste. At Brent Cross Town, it is made using recycled waste bricks, supporting a more circular approach to construction by giving new life to materials that would otherwise be thrown away.

This greener concrete has been used in one of Brent Cross Town’s upcoming Build to Rent buildings, which will deliver more than 200 new homes and is expected to open in 2028. The material was used in a key structural part of the building, helping to lower its environmental impact right from the start.

Councillor Alan Schneiderman, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, said: “Brent Cross Town’s commitment to becoming a new zero town is important to us at Barnet Council as we work towards becoming a net zero borough by 2042. Innovations like these not only help us on our journey to achieving this but also lead the way for the industry to adopt more sustainable methods of construction and reduce the amount of embodied carbon produced.”

Tim Hoyland, Environment Manager at Related Argent added: “The successful application of calcined clay concrete in permanent works at Brent Cross Town is a significant step forward for sustainable construction in the UK. This material is a practical alternative to traditional cement replacement, enabling the industry to significantly reduce carbon emissions, support job creation and the circular economy. We are proud to lead by example and are committed to sharing our experience to encourage wider adoption of calcined clay concrete throughout the sector. A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this happen.”

Although calcined clay concrete has been approved for use in the UK since 2019, it is not yet widely used. By introducing it here, Brent Cross Town is helping to show how greener building methods can be used in everyday homes.

Brent Cross Town is committed to becoming a net zero neighbourhood by reducing carbon in buildings and infrastructure, transitioning to low‑carbon energy sources, and offsetting any remaining emissions. This latest milestone shows how sustainability is being built into the area at every level, not just in parks and transport, but in the very foundations of the homes themselves.

Read more about sustainability at Brent Cross Town and across the wider Brent Cross Cricklewood programme, here.

Brent Cross Town is the new park town being delivered in partnership between Related Argent and Barnet Council, at the heart of the Brent Cross Cricklewood regeneration programme.