PRAPre-refurbishment Audits.
Pre-refurbishment audits that identify what to retain, retrofit and reuse before work starts, giving your team a documented, defensible basis for every retain-versus-replace decision.
What is a Pre-refurbishment Audit?
Book an auditA pre-refurbishment audit assesses an existing building before refurbishment work starts, to work out what should be kept in place, what could be reused elsewhere on-site, and what genuinely needs to be replaced. Unlike a demolition audit, the starting assumption isn't that everything comes out.
It's closer to a retain-first stocktake: every asset is photographed, measured and assessed for condition so the design team has real evidence for their decisions, rather than a judgement call.
Why you need a Pre-refurbishment Audit?
Under the London Plan's Retrofit First policy, and increasingly under planning policy elsewhere in the UK, developers need to show that retention and reuse were properly considered before anything gets replaced. Planning authorities now expect evidence rather than good intentions, and 'we assessed retention options' isn't enough on its own.
A pre-refurbishment audit gives you a documented, defensible basis for every retain-versus-replace decision, which matters both for planning and for avoiding embodied carbon that replacement can never fully claw back. See the GLA guidance (opens in new tab) these requirements rest on.
Material Index Audits.
We audit existing buildings ahead of refurbishment to work out, space by space, what should stay in place, what can be reused elsewhere on-site, and what genuinely needs replacing. Every asset is photographed, measured and assessed for condition, so your design team and planning consultants have a proper evidence base rather than a judgement call.
A pre-refurbishment audit gives you evidence in a format ready for planning submission, BREEAM assessment (opens in new tab) and your Circular Economy Statement. It also flags anything that can't stay in place but still has value elsewhere, feeding retained and reusable assets into Material Passports and listing any surplus through the Material Index marketplace and an Extended Resources Inventory.
How it works.
- 01
Cataloguing at site
Fast digital cataloguing of fit-out and finishes through the MI platform with photographic records.
- 02
Carbon + waste analysis
Automated reporting with European Waste Codes and embodied carbon calculations for every item.
- 03
Push to reuse
Collaborative online decision making and material exchange through the MI platform.
- 04
Report received
Asset register delivered with full material schedule, quantities, condition and estimated value.
- 05
Goods exchanged
Optional selling through MI Exchange, connecting your materials with verified buyers.
Case Studies.
Greencoat & Gordon HouseDerwent London
With Derwent London from Stage 2 through to Stage 4. Online material management lets tenants and the owner find portfolio reuse.
Read the case study
Oliver’s YardDerwent London, Collins Construction
A pre-refurbishment audit for this office building in Islington was driven by the client’s policy to divert material from landfill. A Material Index audit facilitated off-site reuse of kitchenettes, toilets, hand dryers, and specialist lighting in collaboration with Collins.
Read the case studyAudit Enquiry.
Tell us about your project and we will come back with a scope and a fee proposal.
It helps to include:
- The site address and approximate floor area (GIA)
- The audit you need, or the planning, BREEAM or GLA requirement it is for
- Your programme: when you need the report, and when strip-out or demolition starts
- Any drawings, asbestos surveys or previous audits of the building
We have completed over 250 audits across the UK, to BREEAM, GLA and LEED requirements. We aim to respond the same day, or within 24 hours, and can be on site within 5 days.
What's included in a Material Index PRA.
Deliverables
- Retain, retrofit, reuse or replace recommendationA clear recommendation for every audited asset, space by space
- Embodied carbon contextCarbon context to support and defend your retention decisions
- Planning & BREEAM-ready reportEvidence formatted for planning submission, BREEAM and your Circular Economy Statement
- Route to reuse surplusSurplus material listed for reuse through Material Index instead of sent to skip
Compliance
- BREEAM Wst01: Construction Waste Reduction credits
- GLA Circular Economy Statement Guidance
- London Plan Policy SI 7 (Circular Economy)
- Westminster Retrofit First Policy
- Data provided in European Waste Codes, BREEAM waste codes and Uniclass component codes
Ideal for
- Office and commercial refurbishment projects
- Cat A and Cat B fit-out strip-outs
- Retail, hotel and leisure refits
- Landlords and occupiers running rolling refurbishment programmes
Areas Material Index covers.
We cover the whole of the UK. Read how we meet compliance in specific regions, or get in touch to start your project.
Audit to Action.
Every audit is a live inventory. Use it to catalogue, manage exchange and track your materials. Material Index offers follow-on services to broker your materials to registered Trade Partners before strip-out or deconstruction begins.
Audit
Qualified auditors catalogue every component on site using our audit app.
Collaborate
The project team reviews the inventory together on the MI platform and decides what to retain, reuse or sell.
Exchange
We broker materials to registered Trade Partners through the marketplace, with full tracking and reporting.
FAQ.
What is the difference between a pre-refurbishment and a pre-demolition audit?
A pre-refurbishment audit is carried out before a strip-out where the structure is being retained, focusing on fit-out, finishes, services and FF&E. A pre-demolition audit is carried out before a building is fully or partly demolished and covers the structure and fabric as well.
How quickly can you complete one?
We can usually get to site at short notice and return the report within about five working days, so it fits around your strip-out and refurbishment programme.
What do you need from us to carry out the audit?
Access to the building and, where available, floor plans, an asset or FF&E list and your strip-out or refurbishment programme. We work from whatever information exists and capture the rest on site.