When a building is due for demolition or major strip-out, the smartest projects start with knowledge. What materials are in the structure? What can be reused, recycled, or recovered? How can waste be minimised, costs reduced, and planning conditions satisfied?
At WPS Compliance Consulting, pre-demolition audits have been a cornerstone of our work for around 15 years—and they remain one of the services we are most proud of today.
From early adoption of the methodology to thousands of tonnes of materials identified for reuse, WPS has helped shape how the industry approaches demolition planning, long before it became mainstream.
Why Pre-Demolition Audits Matter
A pre-demolition audit provides a detailed picture of what a building is made from before works begin. It identifies key materials, estimates quantities, and sets out how those materials should be managed to maximise reuse and recycling.
Done properly, it supports:
- compliance with planning and circular economy requirements,
- achievement of sustainability targets and BREEAM credits,
- reduced landfill disposal and associated costs,
- better-planned demolition programmes with fewer surprises on site.
In short, it transforms demolition from a reactive exercise into a strategic, data-led process.
15 Years of Experience — and Still Leading
WPS was founded in 2009, and shortly after, we began delivering pre-demolition audits as a specialist service. At the time, very few consultancies were offering this level of detailed material recovery analysis.
In fact, WPS was among the first organisations outside of BRE to prepare full pre-demolition audit reports for live development projects. Fifteen years later, we are still delivering them across the UK—refining our tools, improving our reporting, and adapting to evolving legislation and sustainability expectations.
Over that time, our audits have been consistently accepted by local authorities and project stakeholders, and our clients rely on us because our reports are clear, robust, and practical to implement.
Experience at this scale matters. It means we understand what councils expect what contractors can realistically deliver, and how to balance ambition with buildability.
What You Get in a WPS Pre-Demolition Audit
Every WPS pre-demolition audit is prepared as a bespoke document for the specific site and scheme. Our reports typically include:
- a materials inventory of the existing structure,
- predicted demolition arisings and tonnages,
- recommendations for segregation, reuse, and recycling,
- identification of high-value recovery opportunities,
- commentary on relevant legislation and planning context,
- optional embodied carbon analysis to inform design and demolition strategy.
The focus is always on actionable outcomes—not just compliance on paper, but guidance that can be used on site.
Our Proven Process
Over 15 years, WPS has developed a streamlined and reliable methodology that works on real projects and tight programmes:
- Pre-survey preparation – reviewing drawings and site information, arranging access, and issuing RAMS.
- Site inspection – measuring structures, photographing materials, and identifying key construction elements.
- Quantification – using our in-house calculation tools to estimate volumes and recovery rates.
- Reporting – producing a clear, structured audit tailored to the development and its planning or sustainability drivers.
This repeatable, quality-driven process is one of the reasons clients continue to return to WPS for complex regeneration schemes, large estates, civic buildings, and commercial developments.
Supporting Circular Economy and Sustainable Development
Pre-demolition audits play a critical role in moving the construction sector towards a circular economy. By understanding what already exists in a building, project teams can design demolition works around resource efficiency, not waste.
Across the UK, WPS audits have helped identify significant quantities of materials with reuse potential, unlocking both environmental and economic value for clients.
It is this combination of technical rigour, long-term experience, and practical delivery that keeps WPS at the forefront of demolition planning.
Still Going Strong After 15 Years
Trends come and go in construction sustainability. Pre-demolition audits, however, have only grown in importance—and WPS has been delivering them from the very start.
Fifteen years on, we are still:
- working closely with planning authorities and project teams,
- supporting BREEAM and sustainability strategies,
- refining our tools and reporting,
- and helping clients extract maximum value from buildings at the end of their life.
For WPS, pre-demolition audits are not just another service. They are part of our history—and a major part of our future.
