30 Duke Street, St. James’s, London, SW1

Sustainability and circular economy principles were central to our project at 30 Duke Street, where extensive reclamation, reuse, and recycling defined it from the outset.

Our team has maximised both environmental and social value through strategic material recovery, alongside an intricate programme that includes soft strip, basement demolition, excavation, new concrete foundations, the construction of a one-level basement box, slipform core, and the installation of the ground floor slab.

A key achievement has been the careful removal and preservation of high-quality materials from the existing building.

Portland stone cladding from the Jermyn Street, Duke Street and Piccadilly façades was reclaimed for reuse in the new development, while glass blocks from the 48–50 Jermyn Street elevation were retained for potential future integration.

The marble main stairwell was sensitively dismantled, with 80 panels set aside for reuse and over one tonne of broken marble earmarked for terrazzo production. Through a take-back partnership with Saint Gobain, all external glazing was salvaged for recycling, ultimately returning to the site as low-carbon glass for the new windows.

Our social value commitments have generated meaningful impact, with 833 items diverted for community reuse. Beneficiaries included Hackney City Farm; various photography studios; emerging artists; and several local youth and community organisations.

We have also supported innovative sustainability research by providing materials to the founders of Cyanoskin and contributed to public art through donations to Matthew Small, whose recycled metal lion sculptures were commissioned by the England football team.

Operationally, we have delivered significant programme improvements by sequencing demolition alongside construction of the nine storey slipform core, achieving a saving of at least six weeks.

Despite the challenges of high pedestrian footfall, sensitive neighbours, and a highly constrained site, we ensured safe and efficient progress through careful planning, vibration-minimising methodologies, complicated temporary works, and coordinated logistics.

With 99.9% of non-hazardous waste diverted from landfill and a CCS score of 45/45, along with our commitment to the reuse of materials noted in the report, 30 Duke Street stands as a leading example of sustainable, socially responsible construction.