Pontllanfraith CVL, Wales

As part of the Pontllanfraith project, which delivered a new sports hall within a wider refurbishment scheme for vulnerable learners, reducing embodied carbon was a key priority from the outset. While electric arc furnace (EAF) steel represents standard lower‑carbon practice in the UK, the design team sought to go further by exploring opportunities to reuse structural steel. This approach led to the specification of reused steel for several primary columns and beams forming the sports hall frame.

Curtins worked closely with the appointed contractor and reused steel stockholders to understand procurement routes and how existing steel sections, sourced from demolition projects across the UK, could be incorporated into the scheme.

Early engagement proved essential, allowing the design team to align structural requirements with available stock and ensuring reused elements could be integrated without compromising structural performance.

In total, 35 tonnes of reused steel were incorporated into the project, delivering the following embodied carbon savings compared with typical UK steel procurement routes:

• Reuse vs EAF: 10.5 tCO₂e saved

• Reuse vs BOS: 44.8 tCO₂e saved

In addition to structural interventions, the scheme includes swales underdrained with a rain‑garden planting mix, contributing to the site’s Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) strategy.

By moving beyond standard EAF steel and incorporating reused structural elements, the project demonstrates how practical design and procurement decisions can deliver meaningful reductions in embodied carbon within real-world constraints. While specifying reused steel can offer significant carbon savings, it is important to recognise the need for early engagement with suppliers and the finite nature of available stock, which understandably limits the volume and proportion of reused steel that can be incorporated within a scheme.

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