Construct Zero Refreshed Programme

Construct Zero, launched in November 2021, provided a Performance Framework comprising of 30 metrics across nine priority areas (underpinned against the CCC’s 6th Carbon Budget), each of which told a story of how the sector was reducing its carbon emissions across construction activities; the resulting buildings and structures; and the transport of products and materials. The programme helps to support and inform businesses in the sector (and beyond) with their Net Zero plans, providing them with advice on how this will impact their clients and markets.  

The new 7th Carbon Budget expands the focus from purely Net Zero and introduces areas which also deliver improved economic growth (by improving productivity and removing waste), energy security and resilience.  

The refreshed CZ programme reflects this, incorporating the CCC’s five decarbonisation pathways to net zero (set out below). 

• Electricity: Electrification of industry, transport, heating & energy generation
• Low Carbon Fuels and CCUS: Hydrogen, Sustainable Aviation Fuel, ammonia, and CCUS
• Nature: Woodland creation and peatland restoration
• Engineered Removals: CO₂ transport and storage
• Demand: Efficiency, productivity, and low-carbon choices 

The CLC will also continue to focus on surface transport decarbonisation; building standards and retrofit acceleration; and energy supply transformation, given the CCC’s steer. 

The CLC will be working with the GCB, the wider industry and Government over the coming months to agree the underpinning metrics for the new priorities, with an updated Performance Framework due for publication in Autumn 2026.  

We will therefore be refreshing the Business Champion & Partners programme to encourage networking and sharing of best practice in the new areas the industry will need to expand into. The CLC is today issuing a call to action for new Business Champions and Partners (and organisations with relevant initiatives) to come forward to join its existing cohort of around 300 companies who are providing tangible evidence of the steps they are taking to respond to the Net Zero carbon challenge and support the wider Construct Zero programme.  

If you are delivering work in our new programme areas (as well as existing ones), and would like to join the free Construct Zero programme, we would be pleased to hear from you. Please email Stuart.Young@businessandtrade.gov.uk for further details.  

In parallel, we are today opening our popular Business Champion programme for new applications, with a closing date of 1700 Monday 8th June. Further details, including how to apply are available at here. 

Click here to view the refreshed programme and updated priorities.