The Crown Estate Brings Low-Carbon Concrete to UK for First Time at 30,000-SF Piccadilly Office Development

LONDON — The Crown Estate has announced that its 33-35 Piccadilly office development in London's West End will be the first building in the United Kingdom to use Heidelberg Materials' evoBuild carbon-captured cement within its concrete mix, marking a milestone for low-carbon construction in the country. The 30,000-square-foot scheme is under active construction in London's West End and forms part of what the Crown Estate describes as its largest-ever London development pipeline.

evoBuild Concrete and the Carbon Reduction Strategy

The evoBuild concrete used at 33-35 Piccadilly is produced using cement manufactured with carbon capture and storage technology at Heidelberg Materials' Brevik plant in Norway, where CCS reduces cement production emissions by around 50%. That cement is then combined with low-carbon Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag, or GGBS, to further reduce the concrete's carbon footprint. Heidelberg Materials states the resulting product delivers around 35% CO₂ savings compared with standard concrete while maintaining structural performance. Approximately 3,000 cubic meters of evoBuild concrete have been supplied to the project from Heidelberg Materials' King's Cross plant, including waterproof concrete for basement floors.

The carbon reduction story at 33-35 Piccadilly spans the full design and construction timeline. When the project first received planning permission from Westminster City Council in March 2018 under reference 17/11171/FULL, the embodied carbon stood at 859 kg CO₂/m² at the design stage. Following a redesign of that 2018 consent, The Crown Estate reduced that figure to 614–675 kg CO₂/m² through revised materials specifications, more efficient structural design, circular economy principles, and intelligent building systems. The adoption of evoBuild concrete has pushed the embodied carbon target further, to less than 515–550 kg CO₂/m², a level the Crown Estate says is significantly below typical UK benchmarks and under the recently published UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard limit for new-build office developments.

James Atherton, Development Director at The Crown Estate, said: "Across 33-35 Piccadilly and our wider portfolio, we are taking a holistic approach to reducing carbon, including looking at the materials and construction methods we use to deliver high-quality workplace. This is central to our ongoing long-term work to create a more future-ready West End. We are delighted to be working with Heidelberg Materials UK and the wider project team to bring an innovative lower-carbon concrete solution to the UK for the first time."

Sustainable Materials Sourced Across The Crown Estate's Portfolio

Beyond the concrete specification, the project draws on The Crown Estate's position as both an urban and rural landowner to source sustainable materials from within its own holdings. Kiln-dried, PEFC-certified British oak is being supplied through The Crown Estate's forestry management at Windsor Great Park for use in the building's reception area. The façade will incorporate Heritage Portland Stone sourced from Albion Stone quarries on the Isle of Portland, of which The Crown Estate is the freeholder. The stone is being used in its natural form without geological classification, a decision the Crown Estate says reduces unnecessary quarry waste.

Phillip Rice, Concrete Key Account Manager at Heidelberg Materials UK, said: "The project at 33-35 Piccadilly is set to be an exemplar in sustainable redevelopment. Through collaboration with The Crown Estate, Kier and Realtime Civil Engineering we were able to offer an innovative concrete solution that met the rigorous demands of the project while minimising its carbon impact."

Graham Potts, Regional Director, Kier Construction London & Thames Valley, said: "33-35 Piccadilly is the latest example in our growing commercial portfolio in London and highlights the value of embedding carbon considerations from the outset and maintaining that focus throughout delivery. Through our strong partnership with The Crown Estate and Heidelberg Materials UK, and by combining our in-house design and engineering expertise, we're proud to introduce this lower-carbon concrete solution to the UK for the first time. This innovative approach enables us to closely monitor and reduce carbon throughout the project lifecycle while helping meet growing demand for lower-carbon, cost-efficient buildings."

Building Specifications and Certification Targets

The 33-35 Piccadilly development comprises two sub-basement levels, a ground floor, and eight upper floors. The ground floor and part of the rear ground floor are designated for retail use, with the remainder of the building allocated to office space. The scheme has been designed by architect DSDHA, with Kier as the main construction contractor and Realtime Civil Engineering also forming part of the project team.

The project is targeting a suite of top-tier performance certifications: a 5-star NABERS UK rating, BREEAM Outstanding, WiredScore Platinum, and an EPC A rating. It is also targeting WELL Platinum, with design features focused on natural daylight, enhanced ventilation, and smart building systems. The building has already achieved SmartScore Platinum certification, one of only 14 properties in London to have done so.

Part of The Crown Estate's Expanding West End Pipeline

33-35 Piccadilly is one of several active schemes within The Crown Estate's West End development pipeline. Others include the 138,000-square-foot retrofit of New Zealand House into workplace and hospitality space, as well as more recently announced projects at 10 Piccadilly and 21-29 Glasshouse Street. The Crown Estate has also recently acquired the Piccadilly Regent Estate, which it says strengthens its ability to take a long-term, estate-wide approach to investment and climate resilience across the West End.

Sources

The Crown Estate — evoBuild Concrete to UK (September 9, 2026)