Whole Life-Cycle Carbon Assessments guidance

Whole Life-Cycle Carbon (WLC) emissions are the carbon emissions resulting from materials, construction and use over a building's entire life, including demolition and disposal. A WLC assessment provides a true picture of a building’s carbon impact on the environment.  London Plan Policy SI 2 sets out a requirement for development proposals to calculate and reduce WLC emissions, as part of a WLC assessment.

The WLC assessment guidance document explains how to prepare a WLC assessment, and how and when to submit it. The guidance is for anyone involved (or with an interest) in developing WLC assessments, including planning applicants, developers, designers, energy consultants and local authority officers. A WLC assessment template also exists, which applicants will be expected to use to report this information.

The RICS WLC methodology's second edition came into effect on 1 July 2024. The GLA WLC guidance document (including benchmarks) and template are underpinned by first edition methodology, so referable applications should provide assessment in accordance with this guidance. Applicants can additionally provide assessments in accordance with second edition methodology if they wish. Revisions relating to second edition methodology are being considered as we look to update GLA guidance in future. 

• Whole Life-Cycle Carbon Assessment template

Local authorities should secure a post-construction stage WLC assessment through planning conditions or legal agreements with the applicant - and may use this draft wording to do so.

The GLA prepared this London Plan Guidance (LPG) and assessment template, with technical expertise from Cundall and Targeting Zero, and by engaging with a wide stakeholder range - including developers and industry experts. An engagement work, feedback, and guidance change summary (since initial guidance was drafted) can be found in the Whole Life-Cycle Carbon Assessments LPG consultation summary report. A consultation record is available on the GLA engagement portal.

Equality issues were considered throughout the LPG's development, and are set out in the Equality Impact Assessment.

The LPG has been formally adopted by the Mayor, and details of this can be found in the Mayoral Decision.