What is a pre-demolition audit?

A pre-demolition audit is a survey of a building carried out before it's demolished, to catalogue its materials and identify what can be reused, reclaimed or recycled rather than sent to landfill. It produces an inventory of quantities, conditions and recommended reuse or recycling routes, and is used to support planning and BREEAM requirements.

What's the difference between a pre-demolition and a pre-refurbishment audit?

They use the same method for different works: a pre-demolition audit covers a building being fully or largely demolished, while a pre-refurbishment audit covers refurbishment, strip-out or partial works where much of the building stays. If you're not sure which your project needs, tell us the scope and we'll advise.

What is a Circular Economy Statement?

A Circular Economy Statement is a planning document showing how a development reduces waste and keeps materials in use across its lifecycle. Some local authorities now require one for larger schemes, and it's usually built on the data from a pre-demolition or pre-refurbishment audit.

What is a material reuse or asset survey?

It's a focused survey of the specific materials, fixtures and components in a building that are worth reclaiming, reselling or donating, along with their condition, quantities and possible routes to reuse. It's for clients who want to capture value from what's removed, not just meet a compliance requirement.

What is embodied carbon and why does it matter for my project?

Embodied carbon is the carbon emitted in producing, transporting and installing building materials — separate from the energy a building uses once occupied. Reusing existing materials avoids the embodied carbon of new ones, which is why audits increasingly report it and why planners and BREEAM assessors care about it.

Do I need a pre-demolition audit for planning permission?

Increasingly, yes — a growing number of local authorities ask for a pre-demolition or pre-redevelopment audit, or a Circular Economy Statement based on one, as part of planning for demolition or major redevelopment. Requirements vary by authority, so it's worth checking early; we can tell you what your local authority expects.

Do pre-demolition audits help with BREEAM?

Yes. A pre-demolition audit is needed to claim the BREEAM Wst 01 (Construction Waste Management) credits — up to 4 credits — by demonstrating material recovery and diversion from landfill, and it informs your Site Waste Management Plan.

How much does a pre-demolition audit cost?

Our audits are fixed-price, so you know the cost up front rather than facing an open-ended day rate. Price depends mainly on the building's floor area and type — use our instant estimate to get an indicative range in under a minute, then a firm quote within one working day.

How long does an audit take?

Days, not weeks. We can typically be on site quickly and return a planning-ready report in as little as 5 working days, so the audit doesn't hold up your planning or programme.

Which areas do you cover?

We focus on Bristol, Bath, Manchester and Leeds and the surrounding areas, which keeps us fast on site and avoids long-distance travel costs. If your project is nearby, ask us — we may still be able to help.

Circular Audits

Fast, compliant, and actionable building audits delivered at fixed prices

Aerial view of a UK city skyline representing Finch Audits' building audit services for pre-demolition and pre-refurbishment projects

Planning compliant pre-demolition, pre-refurbishment, and circular economy audits which your team can action in a matter of days.

Days, not weeks

On site quickly and a report back in as little as 48 hours.

Fixed prices,
no surprises

Transparent pricing with no open ended day rates.

Genuinely independent

Impartial audits, exactly what planners and assessors require

Actionable

Insightful data with clear practical guidance included

Four services, one promise

Independent, planning ready audits at a fixed price, turned around in days.

Laptop displaying a Circular Economy Statement report for a construction project

Aerial view of sinks assessed during a material reuse and asset survey

Worker inspecting a stripped-out building interior during a pre-refurbishment audit survey

Workers loading construction waste skips during a pre-demolition audit for material recovery and recycling

Identify the materials and building components which can be reused, resold or recycled prior to strip-out or refurbishment.

Learn more >

Catalogue a building before demolition and identify what can be reused, reclaimed or recycled

Learn more >

Pre-Refurbishment Audits

Pre-Demolition Audit

Material Reuse & Asset Surveys

Circular Economy Statements

A focused survey of the materials and components worth reclaiming, reselling or donating.

Learn more >

The planning document demonstrates how your project designs out waste and keeps materials in use.

Learn more >

Request a Quote

Who is this for?

Design reuse in from the start.
See exactly what the existing building offers for reuse and recycling, so you can specify it into your design rather than discover it too late. Meet planning and BREEAM requirements with hard evidence, and keep the sustainability story credible.

Architects

Cost and programme certainty.
A fixed price and a report in days, so the audit is a known line in your budget and never the thing that slips your timeline. Clear material data to plan strip-out and demolition, and one less compliance risk to chase.

Project Managers

Cut waste costs, capture value.
Know what is in the building before you start. Accurate quantities to price the job and build your waste management plan, and a clear view of the materials worth reclaiming or reselling instead of paying to send them to landfill.

Contractors

Know what your building is worth.
Understand the value locked in your building and its assets before anything comes down, from reusable materials to reclaimed products. Meet your circular economy conditions, and make an informed call on demolition versus reuse.

Building Owners

How it works, from enquiry to planning ready report.

Tell us about the project
Building type, floor area and location. We come back with a fixed quote.
We audit
We come to visit the site and document the required assets to be catalogued.
You get the report
Materials, quantities, reuse pathways, embodied carbon and BREEAM evidence, whichever your project requires.

Some of our previous projects

A modern three-story building with large glass windows, a brick exterior, and a sign that reads 'Broadway House' at the entrance.

Broadway House
Pre-Demolition Audit | Commercial

3,710 tons of material catalogued across 3,000m² of office space

Aerial view of a suburban neighborhood with a two-story brick house surrounded by trees and other residential buildings, under a partly cloudy sky.

Residential Home
Pre-Demolition Audit | Residential

98% diversion from landfill

Aerial view of an industrial complex with several warehouses, parking lots, and trucks parked in designated areas.

Retail unit

85% of audited materials identified for offsite reuse

The things people ask first

A pre-demolition audit is a survey of a building carried out before it is demolished, to catalogue its materials and identify what can be reused, reclaimed or recycled rather than sent to landfill. It produces an inventory of quantities, conditions and recommended routes, and is used to support planning and BREEAM requirements.
Increasingly, yes. A growing number of local authorities ask for a pre-demolition or pre-redevelopment audit, or a Circular Economy Statement based on one, as part of planning for demolition or major redevelopment. Requirements vary by authority, so it is worth checking early, and we can tell you what your local authority expects.
Our audits are fixed price, so you know the cost up front rather than facing an open ended day rate. Price depends mainly on the building's floor area and type. Get in touch and we will confirm a firm quote.

See all questions