The transformative potential of circular economy and retrofit

Alongside a panel of industry experts – Gareth Atkinson from Civic Engineers, Jamie Quinn from Related Argent and Sarah Halpin from Ramboll – the session wasn't just another conversation about sustainability – it was a rallying cry for fundamental change.

What resonated most was how united we were on the point that circularity must be designed in from the start. If a project comes to us at RIBA Stage 3 and it’s already locked in planning, it’s very hard to go back and ask, ‘can we reuse this?’ It’s not that we don’t want to - it’s that the system doesn’t always allow us to.

Shifting mindsets

Gareth offered a compelling reflection as he spoke about the fact that we’ve been trained for decades to want everything to be made with new materials - but that mindset must shift. If something’s already been shaped, formed and made useful, why are we throwing it away? He reminded us that circularity isn’t just about process - it’s about mindset, and it starts with challenging our default assumptions.

To illustrate this, Gareth asked the audience, “how many of you use Vinted?” A good number of hands went up, but not everyone. He used this as a clever analogy for circular economy - much like many people still buy new clothes instead of choosing second-hand, our industry has been conditioned for decades to always want new materials. But just like clothes on Vinted - often barely worn and perfectly good - many building materials and components could be reused or repurposed with huge potential.

He explained that platforms like Vinted act as brokers, connecting people to items that still have life left in them. This made me think: how often do we see materials and fit-out elements installed in buildings and then discarded soon after, sometimes without ever being fully utilised? The message was clear - once effort has been put into shaping and forming materials, why throw them away? Reuse isn’t just practical, it’s necessary. It’s about appreciating the value already embedded in what we have and finding ways to extend it.

Leadership and early involvement

We are already doing this - but as an industry we need to do it better. I shared examples from our work at Willmott Dixon - how at TBC.London, we reused steel from another site in London and repurposed concrete and packaging materials. On another scheme, we reused windows and bricks from a partial demolition to reduce both waste and cost. The potential is there - but it relies on asking the right questions early.

And yes, there are challenges. As I put it during the session, “there’s a perception of reuse, that it's not as good.” – but it absolutely can be. Warranties, certification, aesthetics - these are solvable problems when the industry collaborates and shares knowledge.

Jamie echoed this, emphasising the value of strong leadership in pushing against the norm. He spoke about change requiring leaders to be willing to invest time, resources, and take initial risks. By stepping up and demonstrating practical examples of circular economy practices, they can inspire others and create momentum for wider systemic change.

So, what’s the takeaway? For me, it’s this: every building should be treated like a heritage building. Preserve what you can, design in layers, and think about what comes next. If we can make our buildings more adaptable, they’ll last longer - and we’ll reduce both waste and cost over their lifetime.

And as Sarah said so perfectly at the end, be the person in the room that keeps asking, ‘but why?’. This includes persistently questioning existing practices - "being the pain in the room" - and building trust to challenge through direct, personal communication.

So, here’s my challenge to all of us: reuse one thing, ask one question, challenge one assumption. It all starts there.

Want to learn more?

If you’re looking to understand how these insights could apply to your organisation or simply want to explore the topic further, get in touch with Kemi Owoeye. She’d be pleased to talk through your challenges and how we might help.

Prefer to listen to audio?

You can listen to the full discussion on our Building Knowledge Podcast on:

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Or stream the episode below...

Find out more about Willmott Dixon at UKREiiF 2025 and further event insights: www.willmottdixon.co.uk/ukreiif