Pre-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.
Book an Audit: audits@material-index.co.uk
What is a Pre-refurbishment Audit?.
A 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.
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.
Our PRA Deliverables.
Retain, retrofit, reuse or replace recommendation
A clear recommendation for every audited asset, space by space
Embodied carbon context
Carbon context to support and defend your retention decisions
Planning & BREEAM-ready report
Evidence formatted for planning submission, BREEAM and your Circular Economy Statement
Route to reuse surplus
Surplus material listed for reuse through Material Index instead of sent to skip
PRA Compliance.
Standards & policy
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 we cover.
Pre-refurbishment Audits across the UK, with local expertise in the Greater London boroughs and every region.
Greater London Authority
UK-wide
Case Studies.
See how our audit and exchange services have delivered measurable results on real UK construction projects.
PDAPre-demolition Audit
1 Appold Street
British Land
Thorough Pre-demolition Audit and detailed asset register for a Broadgate Estate strip-out ahead of redevelopment.
MRAMaterial Reclamation Audit
Workplace Futures Group Office
Workplace Futures Group
Material Reclamation Audit used by designers to identify what can be reused in Workplace Futures Group's new office.
PRDAPre-redevelopment Audit
125 Shaftesbury Avenue
EDGE
Pre-redevelopment Audit for a GLA Circular Economy Statement, retention feasibility and planning approval in 2025.
FAQs.
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.
Other Audit Services.
PDA
Pre-demolition Audit
Before you build or demolish
MRA
Material Reclamation Audit
Maximise recovery, minimise waste
PRDA
Pre-redevelopment Audit
Retention before demolition
ERI
Extended Resources Inventory
BREEAM In-Use RSC03
MP
Material Passports
Digital material identity
CE
CE Services
Advisory and brokerage
Audit Enquiry.
Tell us about your project and our team will be in touch.