Why construction must embrace circularity
Darron Hall, Head of Sustainability, and Kathryn Castledine, Senior Sustainability Manager, explain why the construction industry must look beyond recycling and embed circular thinking
Sustainable Engineering Excellence
Making choices that matter
Making choices that matter
Sustainable Engineering Excellence is our commitment to creating projects that deliver lasting value for people, places and the planet. It’s about embedding sustainability into every choice we make, from the earliest concept discussions to the final handover, ensuring our decisions deliver a legacy we’re proud of.
Our Sustainable Engineering Excellence hub brings together our strategy, partnerships, insights and innovation in one place, showcasing how we are driving positive change across the industry.
A culture of sustainability from the start
Sustainable Engineering Excellence starts long before work begins on site. By engaging early, using our playbook principles, and making informed decisions at the outset, we can significantly reduce environmental impact across the lifecycle of a project and deliver lasting benefit to the communities where we work.
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Rooted in the McAlpine spirit
Sustainable Engineering Excellence is not a standalone initiative. It is part of who we are. It is a cultural commitment, grounded in the McAlpine spirit of excellence, ingenuity and doing the right thing.
We bring together the collective intelligence of our people, each empowered to make a difference, in practical, measurable ways. Through this combined expertise, sustainability becomes the natural output of every decision we make.
Partnerships that amplify impact
It’s not something we do alone. Partnering with clients, design teams, supply chain partners and industry organisations ensures we deliver best value and embed sustainable engineering at all stages.
From circularity to social impact, these partnerships across the UK, help generate insight, innovations and performance that showcase what can be achieved and in our sector.
Their work demonstrates what’s possible when sustainability sits at the heart of every project.
We make hundreds of choices a day. Aggregated, those choices are our sustainability performance.
Simon Rchards Sustainability Director
Sustainability Director, Simon Richards, introduces our Sustainable Engineering Excellence strategy
Our Sustainable Engineering Excellence strategy
Our Sustainable Engineering Excellence (SEE) strategy is how we harness our collective knowledge to deliver more sustainable solutions, by making choices that matter.
Thought Leaderhip
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Read more aboutWhy Net Zero Hinges on Data
09 Jul 2026During Net Zero Week, Adam Robinson, Senior Sustainability Manager at Sir Robert McAlpine, explains why data-driven decision-making is fundamental to achieving the construction industry's sustainability ambitions.
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Read more aboutEquity vs Equality: Why the difference really matters
Company Social Value Manager, Anjana Raj, and Senior Social Value Manager, Alex Ward, reflect on the importance of equity
Case studies
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Read more about2 Finsbury Avenue - clad in elegance
07 Jul 2025Cladding Managers Angela Beckwith and Mark Nicholls share insights about the façade at 2 Finsbury Avenue, which sets a new benchmark for sustainable urban architecture.
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Read more aboutGlobal sustainability award for A533 Scheme
28 Jul 2025AmeySRM has been awarded a 2025 Green World Award for the A533 Scheme, recognised for cutting over 1,000 tonnes of CO₂e through sustainable design and delivery.
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Read more aboutChester Hospital achieves NHS Net Zero Standard
15 Oct 2025Newly opened Women & Children’s Building at the Countess of Chester Hospital makes history delivering a low energy facility for NHS maternity patients and families.
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Read more aboutONE Station Hill wins BCO National Award
10 Oct 2025Project praised for its outstanding sustainability credentials and next-generation office design
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Read more aboutLondon Museum Sustainable approach to roof delivers multiple benefits
04 Jul 2025Our use of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) in the conversion of the two former market buildings in Smithfield into the new London Museum provides an excellent example of sustainable engineering excellence.
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Read more aboutInnovation and sustainability at Three Chamberlain Square
16 Jan 2025Three Chamberlain Square, part of the Paradise development in Birmingham, features in a Construction News article focusing on innovation and sustainable construction.
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Read more aboutReducing carbon emissions at TQA1
17 Mar 2025Early collaboration in the design stage and engagement with supply chain enable Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus to achieve a 25% reduction in embodied carbon.
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Read more aboutGreen Apple award for project with sustainability at its core
27 Nov 2024The sustainable approach to delivery taken by our AmeySRM JV team on the A533 Expressway Replacement Bridge Scheme has seen the project honoured with an international Green Apple Environment Award.
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Read more aboutLatest Strong Foundations Grants awarded
13 Jan 2026Twenty six projects have been awarded funding to support a range of projects, taking the total amount we have funded via ActionFunder to more than £450,000
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Read more aboutNRC teams volunteer hundreds of hours to community
08 Aug 2025Supporting the community has been high on the agenda as part of the National Rehabilitation Centre's construction in Loughborough
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Read more aboutBuilding social value at TQEC
11 Jul 2025With skills shortages affecting every area of the construction industry, it’s vital that young people feel involved with the projects taking place across our cities.
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Read more aboutTQEC connects to Bristol heat network
20 Nov 2025Energy from the project's computer servers will be used to provide heating and hot water for the campus, as well as homes and businesses in the local area
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Read more aboutSupporting construction skills in West Cumbria
02 Oct 2024A unique 13m cable-stayed bridge teaches West Cumbrian students hands-on civil engineering skills, promoting STEM careers and pathways into construction.
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Read more aboutM6 ROM team volunteers help Lockerbie's community
09 Sep 2024Volunteers from our M6 ROM team partnered with Heidelberg to upgrade Lockerbie Ice Rink’s car park and footpath, helping the beloved community hub recover from the impact of rising energy costs.
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Read more aboutCircular Economy at 1 Broadgate
20 Apr 2022Company Carbon Manager, Simon Leek, shares insight into how the demolition and enabling works at 1 Broadgate in London have adopted circular economy principles.
Partnerships
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Read more aboutPlanBEE receives royal seal of approval
05 Dec 2025We are a founding sponsor of the initiative, which helps to attract and retain talent within the construction industry
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Read more aboutPAS 2080 verification the latest milestone on our pathway to Net Zero
07 Aug 2024Leading the way in decarbonisation, we've achieved PAS 2080 certification across our UK operations, enhancing carbon management in construction.
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Read more aboutNet Zero 2045 target validated by the SBTi
19 Jul 2023We're excited to announce a further strengthening of our commitment to decarbonisation, with the validation of our science-based Net Zero target by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
Projects
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Read more aboutConstruction of offices and iconic roof top garden at Fen Court
Teamwork, technical expertise and community engagement were key in the design and construction of this 15-storey commercial office building and iconic roof top garden in the heart of the City of London
Sectors: CommercialRegion: London -
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Read more aboutThree Chamberlain Square
The Three Chamberlain Square development in Birmingham sets a new benchmark for sustainable, city centre workspace
Sectors: CommercialRegion: Midlands -
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Read more aboutDelivering a sustainable City landmark
Early engagement, collaboration and our commitment to sustainable engineering excellence have underpinned our approach at 2 Finsbury Avenue.
Sectors: CommercialRegion: London -
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Read more aboutTemple Quarter Enterprise Campus
We constructed a new, world-class campus for the University of Bristol.
Sectors: EducationThemes: Sustainability -
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Read more aboutOne Centenary Way: A testament to modern construction excellence
Designed by Glenn Howells Architects, with engineering input from Arup, One Centenary Way is a 13 storey, 280,000 sq ft commercial building with ground floor retail space.
Sectors: CommercialRegion: Midlands -
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Read more aboutEngineering Excellence at 100 Liverpool Street
Transforming 100 Liverpool Street for British Land.
Sectors: CommercialRegion: London -
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Read more aboutFrom disused clay pit to a world-famous attraction
Chosen for our ability to construct the (near) impossible, we helped create one of the most ambitious gardens ever.
Sectors: LeisureRegion: South West -
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Read more aboutWales Millennium Centre
16 Jun 202520 years on, we look back at the Wales Millennium Centre, a Cardiff icon blending world-class engineering, sustainable design and Welsh cultural identity.
