Guidance

Circularity guidance for mayoral strategic authorities

Published 26 February 2026

Applies to England

Who this guidance is for 

This guidance is intended to help English mayoral strategic authorities that are drafting or updating local growth plans or spatial development strategies.

Foundation strategic authorities and local authorities in non-devolution areas have an important role to play alongside all other strategic authorities – including, county councils, and unitary authorities – who will also be required to prepare a strategic development strategy in driving local growth. They may wish to read this guidance when considering next steps for greater devolution and their own economic plans.

It may also be useful to other local government organisations looking to embed growth practices in their local communities using circular economy approaches.

This guidance should be read in parallel to the local growth plan, National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and planning practice guidance, and used as a companion to these.

This guidance has been developed with input from the Circular Economy Taskforce and other stakeholders. We welcome feedback on this guidance. 

What is a circular economy? 

A circular economy is an economic system that keeps materials, resources and energy in use at their highest value for as long as possible. A circular economy ensures products are designed to last and can be repaired, refurbished, reused and recycled. Through a circular economy, waste is eliminated and exploitation is replaced with regeneration. By integrating social, economic and environmental considerations, circular approaches minimise resource use and environmental impact while fostering sustainable growth and social value. 

In applying these principles, local growth plans can include measures that help local residents directly save money by extending the life of everyday products, such as expanding access to affordable repair services and supporting second‑hand, reuse and product rental schemes that offer good‑quality items at a lower cost. They could also include initiatives that reduce household food waste – such as redistribution partnerships or easier access to loose and smaller‑portion items – helping families avoid unnecessary spending. By supporting such initiatives at a regional scale, mayoral strategic authorities can provide the scale, coordination and strategic direction to grow local circular businesses and create jobs, while reducing waste‑related pressures on council budgets. 

The government is committed to transitioning towards a circular economy. Our upcoming Circular Economy Growth Plan has been developed in collaboration with the Circular Economy Taskforce and identifies major opportunities across sectors including agri-food, construction, chemicals, electronics, textiles and transport. The plan includes policies that stimulate investment and innovation, boost economic growth, support resilient supply chains, tackle the cost of living and support local prosperity. The Growth Plan can provide a strategic guide for local authorities in considering how best to plan for regional circular infrastructure such as in recycling, repair and remanufacturing. 

Local places are the powerhouses of the circular transition, with many local and regional governments already leading the way. At the local level, circular economy approaches strengthen community resilience, create jobs and support inclusive economic development, while circular supply chains enhance autonomy and secure access to critical raw materials. Local and regional governments are key drivers of this transition, making local places central to a circular future. This guidance sets out examples from across England of how circular approaches have been successfully implemented, to show mayoral strategic authorities how they may embed circularity into their strategic planning and support delivery through collaboration with constituent local authorities and other partners.  

The role of mayoral strategic authorities 

Mayoral strategic authorities are required to produce a local growth plan and a spatial development strategy in line with the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025. Local growth plans will be locally owned, representing the different needs of each mayoral strategic authority, and should provide a long-term, 10-year strategic framework for growth in their region. The sector roadmaps which will be published with the Circular Economy Growth Plan will also take a long-term view and, where certain sectors are particularly important for a region, the local growth plan can attract long-term investment and presence from these sectors by considering alignment with the relevant sector roadmap.  

Although all sectors can benefit, some offer greater potential for impact. Each authority will have a unique mix of industries and services, so identifying priority sectors is key to maximising economic, social and environmental gains. Targeting these areas ensures circular practices deliver the greatest value for local communities and long-term regional prosperity. 

Embedding circular economy principles into local growth plans gives mayoral strategic authorities an opportunity to make regional growth more resilient, sustainable and inclusive. Circular approaches such as reuse, repair and product-as-a-service can improve resource efficiency, cut carbon emissions and spark innovation, while creating skilled jobs in recycling, remanufacturing and green infrastructure. These benefits extend beyond the economy, supporting healthier ecosystems and generating social value. 

Mayoral strategic authorities are ideally placed to facilitate and foster the collaboration, networks and partnerships required to achieve a circular systems transformation that will have positive and meaningful impacts on local communities. Priority local sectors will underpin this transformation and are an essential partner in planning a circular transition.

How to incorporate circularity into local growth plans 

Including circularity as a core principle when developing or refreshing a local growth plan sends a clear signal to businesses, investors and stakeholders that the area is committed to sustainable, future-ready growth. This approach can help to attract investment, stimulate local enterprise and build competitive advantage, while ensuring that prosperity is underpinned by positive environmental and social outcomes. 

Mapping existing local activity (such as repair and reuse schemes, recycling services, and resource-efficient businesses) is a sensible starting point to build on current strengths and networks and avoid duplication, as well as identifying key gaps and opportunities. This provides a solid foundation for accelerating progress toward a resilient, sustainable economy. 

The West Midlands Combined Authority has established a Circular Economy Routemap, which is an example of how mayoral strategic authorities can approach the mapping and analysis of circular growth opportunities. The routemap sets out the mapping and baselining processes undertaken and focuses on 3 priority areas: circular manufacturing, circular construction and circular food, based on their high material and resource use. For example, the routemap identifies that if 50% of the West Midlands’ population participated in reuse and sharing networks, £2bn could be generated each year; and that re-processing and reusing resources creates 6 times more economic value than sending them to landfill. The routemap aims to catalyse socio-economic transformation by promoting the sustainable use of resources and generating economic and social value. It includes strategic interventions for each of the selected priority areas, with specific emphasis on transport manufacturing activities and the potential for a competitive clean tech sector in the region. The routemap also identifies opportunities for unlocking brownfield sites, embedding circular design and capitalising on new material innovation to realise the economic potential of circularity for the region. 

Strong leadership is essential to convene partnerships across sectors, aligning efforts and sharing resources. Combining clear direction with collaboration ensures local growth plans are practical, inclusive and capable of delivering long-term change. 

This section provides examples of how local places can successfully integrate circular economy approaches into: 

• business support 
• collaborative hubs and spaces 
• growing local skills  
• public procurement to drive local growth and social value 
• community inclusion (including work with schools and the social care system)

Business support

Circular businesses, and those transitioning from linear models, need tailored support to unlock the benefits of circularity. Business support policies should recognise circular businesses’ distinct needs, from helping start-ups build circular business models to enabling small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to scale and larger firms to transform supply chains. A bespoke approach ensures each business can progress toward sustainable growth.

Green Street

Green Street is a national initiative which helps small independent retailers to embed sustainability and circular economy principles into their operations. It has supported more than 80 local businesses across Newcastle, Bradford and Manchester to reduce waste, cut carbon emissions and energy bills, and adopt planet-friendly practices such as reuse, repair, and ethical sourcing. Through its online hub, Green Street provides practical guides, case studies and tools that empower businesses to make greener choices while boosting customer engagement.

In Newcastle, Green Street was funded as part of its business support offer for greening businesses, with the North East Combined Authority acting as the lead authority to manage and distribute the funding. As part of the Newcastle High Streets Project, this support enables local independent businesses to adopt greener practices, reduce waste and improve energy efficiency. Tailored advice and resources are available through ‘Green Street pioneers’ who showcase sustainable approaches and inspire those at earlier stages of development. Green Street is a scalable model for sustainable high street transformation. 

Circular Malton and Norton

Circular Malton and Norton is a pioneering community-led initiative in North Yorkshire, embedding circular economy principles into everyday life. Its high street hub has inspired behaviour change through upcycled goods, preloved fashion and repair services, preventing over 1,100 items from going to waste while revitalising the town centre and supporting green jobs. Building on this momentum, the community has backed an ambitious plan to transform local food waste into heat and energy and combine this with renewables to create a circular economy business park. This off‑grid network will help businesses decarbonise, save around 2,500T CO₂ annually and drive sustainable economic growth.

Through town‑wide initiatives, mapping and promoting circular businesses, and fostering a culture of reuse and repair, residents are experiencing tangible benefits and embracing change. Circular Malton’s replicable model blends grassroots engagement with strategic policymaking across local councils and the York and North Yorkshire mayoral authority, strengthening economic growth plans and sustainability‑led regeneration. Now recognised nationally as the UK’s Best Circular Town Champion 2025, it demonstrates how inclusive circular action can deliver economic, social and environmental benefits for the whole community.  

ReLondon’s High Streets Beyond Waste

ReLondon’s High Streets Beyond Waste programme is working with London’s local businesses to cut waste and embrace circular economy practices. Through grants and tailored one-on-one advice, the initiative helps cafes, shops, salons and other high street enterprises adopt reuse, repair, rental, sharing and recycling in their business models. To date, it has delivered financial support and upskilling to over 100 high street businesses across 22 boroughs, including connecting them with relevant circular products and services emerging on the market. Successful grant recipients participating in the programme have tackled 7.8 tonnes of waste over 4 to 6 months, 94% reported that the support had helped their businesses grow and on average £340 per month was saved by each business. By funding practical projects and encouraging sustainable consumer habits, Beyond Waste is turning London’s high streets into hubs of innovation and sustainability.

Collaborative hubs and spaces

Connection and collaboration will always be important, but particularly so at the outset of the transition to circularity. Mayoral strategic authorities can use their convening power to create local networks to connect similar businesses or those that could help each other to achieve shared objectives. This can help like-minded business leaders find each other and facilitate learning, sharing, problem-solving and future planning.

Think about how partnerships with experts and anchor institutions such as schools, universities, hospitals, prisons or major local industries can augment your offer to support businesses and grow sustainable local supply chains and services that support circularity for the biggest and smallest players in the local economy.

Kingston Green Business Community

The Kingston Green Business Community provides a collaborative platform where local enterprises can connect, share knowledge and access practical training to embed sustainability into their operations. Through initiatives such as roundtable discussions, workshops and green skills programmes, the community helps start-ups, SMEs and larger firms learn how to reduce emissions, cut costs and adopt circular practices. At one of their Think Green Roundtables, a construction company shared how they reused timber offcuts in smaller projects instead of sending them to landfill. This example inspired a local furniture maker to source reclaimed wood, creating a new supply chain link between 2 Kingston businesses and demonstrating the importance of such groups in supporting circular innovation. 

Circular economy hubs

Circular economy hubs can act as incubators for SMEs and start-ups, providing access to funding, technical expertise and pilot spaces that enable innovation and scale-up. Allowing businesses with specifically circular business objectives to rent space at a favourable rate can have multiple benefits for the local community and economy, in terms of accessible services like repair or product rental, regeneration effects, and supporting peer-to-peer collaboration and innovation to reduce waste and create economic opportunities.

Skills

Skills development is vital for enabling circular systems. This includes direct skills like design, repair and logistics, as well as indirect skills such as digital, finance and engineering, based on research by ReLondon (ReLondon, 2022). Local skills improvement plans (LSIPs) can align training with employer needs, making circular skills visible and valued.

A layered approach spanning formal education, professional training and on-the-job learning ensures citizens and professionals are equipped to drive circular innovation, strengthening both the workforce and economic resilience. Consider supporting bespoke training through green skills academies or community hubs, alongside lifelong learning and industry-led apprenticeships. This ensures the workforce is equipped for circular innovation and future-proof careers. Engage early with local employers to explore the skills they will need to support a circular transition.

Industry-led apprenticeships and lifelong learning programmes offer inclusive routes into future-proof careers, while community education initiatives foster behaviour change and civic participation. These efforts not only support employment but also build local capacity and resilience.

Kingston University

Kingston University is actively involved in promoting and implementing circular‑economy principles, both within its own campus operations and through partnerships with the local community. The University aims to shift from the traditional ‘take‑make‑dispose’ linear model to a regenerative, low‑waste system, with initiatives focused on waste reduction, sustainable design and local business engagement. As part of this, students develop practical green skills by working with the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames to audit how local cafes and small shops use materials such as packaging and single‑use items. They map waste streams and propose circular‑economy solutions, including reusable‑container schemes and supplier take‑back options. Their findings support local businesses while giving students hands‑on experience in sustainability problem‑solving.

Public procurement to drive local growth and social value

Public procurement is a powerful tool for embedding circularity into everyday operations and signalling commitment to sustainable growth to investors and businesses.

Mayoral strategic authorities can support and amplify the effect of local procurement policies and planning incentives on demand for circular products and services, anchoring economic activity within the community, by convening local planning and procurement leads to drive consistency and coherence. Mayoral strategic authorities could also work with local authorities to develop consistent requirements of businesses to demonstrate specific circular outcomes or commitments to circularity within contract specifications and ensure that circular supply chains are embedded throughout procurement processes.

Local government can drive sustainable economic growth by collaborating with local anchor institutions such as hospitals, universities, housing associations and large employers to create collective buying power. Coordinated procurement by major buyers can prioritise local suppliers adopting circular practices, while simultaneously creating strong market demand for circular products and services. In turn, this drives innovation and investment in sustainable business models.

Waste and resources can be a particularly good avenue through which to explore including circular approaches into public procurement, while also delivering social and economic value. Where local authorities (or waste authorities) let waste contracts, circular requirements can stimulate reuse infrastructure. Mayoral strategic authorities can support this by convening waste authorities to align ambition, share best practice and link reuse with skills and business support. Waste contracts can be designed to encourage the establishment of refurbishment hubs, second-hand retail outlets, and training programmes that equip residents with practical skills in repair and upcycling. Profits generated through resale activities can be reinvested into local initiatives, supporting social enterprises and community projects. This approach not only diverts materials from landfill and reduces emissions but also strengthens local economies by anchoring value in place, fostering entrepreneurship and building community resilience.

Renew Hub Manchester

The Renew Hub in Greater Manchester, operated by SUEZ under contract to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, is a flagship facility. Since opening in 2021, the Renew Hub has sold 455,000 items that would otherwise have been thrown away. Household items donated by the public are repaired and sold through 3 Renew shops and online platforms or donated to charities. This generates funds for local charities and community projects. The revenue provides 2 guaranteed annual charitable donations: a £100k donation to the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity to support reducing homelessness in Greater Manchester; and £200k to the Renew Community Fund. To date, £1.1 million has been distributed through the Renew Community Fund to 110 local community groups for projects like bike repair and tool libraries, creating long-term behavioural change and fostering community engagement.

Citizens gain access to affordable refurbished goods while students and apprentices are upskilled in repair and upcycling. Offenders engage in rehabilitation through learning new repair and digital skills, corporates hire the event space, and charities can apply to access refurbished items free of charge. The approach has been commercially successful and is being rolled out by SUEZ in other areas. By embedding circular economy principles into public waste services procurement, the Renew Hub demonstrates how municipal contracts can deliver environmental, social and economic value beyond traditional waste management. In this case, this was achieved through placing a high rating of 15% on social value in the bidding process for the contract.

City of Doncaster Council

City of Doncaster Council is actively promoting the circular economy through collaboration with regional partners such as the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission and the York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership. The council is applying recognised circular economy frameworks in its procurement practices and wider activities, as part of a holistic approach. This draws on ideas in the York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership’s ‘Circular Towns Guide’ , produced for the Circular Yorkshire programme, which supports community‑level action. Reuse initiatives at household waste recycling centres (enabled through Doncaster’s social value in procurement policy) create local employment opportunities and support charitable organisations. Over the 2024 to 2025 period, 717 tonnes of reusable items – including furniture, bikes and small electricals – were diverted from waste through kerbside collections and household waste recycling centres.

Community inclusion (including work with schools and the social care system)

Empowering communities to embrace circular practices drives behaviour change, builds local markets, and connects people, businesses and institutions.

A circular approach encourages inclusion by considering the whole system, with household waste recycling centres able to support the social care system by providing clothing, furniture and appliances free of charge; circular hubs and business support activities creating job opportunities and skills development for prison leavers; and entrepreneurial habits built in the classroom at the same time as providing access to affordable, sustainable household products through in-school refill shops.

There are several local areas already offering community support as part of their growth plans.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is driving sustainable growth through its Eco Grants for Schools programme, which empowers pupils to lead circular economy initiatives that benefit both the environment and local communities by funding projects up to £2,000. The project has supported 29 schools to date. As well as environmental benefits, projects prioritise tackling inequalities, including health and wellbeing, building confidence and skills, and strengthening community cohesion, with additional weighting in the evaluation for schools in areas of higher deprivation. By funding projects focused on waste reduction, climate education and sustainable food practices, the programme embeds circular principles into school life while fostering environmental awareness and practical skills. The programme is designed to ensure that the positive behaviours and skills developed are sustained well beyond the initial grant period.  

This includes GMCA’s collaboration with the social enterprise Pupils Profit to establish pupil‑led eco refill shops in schools, giving young people hands‑on experience in running a circular‑economy enterprise while reducing single‑use plastics. The project is now supporting 45 schools across the city-region. In the first 2 years of the Eco Refill project, 25 schools participated in pupil-led initiatives that have collectively avoided over 3,300 plastic containers from waste and engaged 18,900 community members. During this period, 289 children have taken roles in running refill shops, developing confidence and practical skills such as financial management, leadership, marketing and customer service. Surveys indicate that families are now purchasing more plastic-free products and reducing their overall consumption. Schools have begun to trade regularly, generating a small revenue stream that helps sustain these activities beyond the initial grant period.

This approach supports GMCA’s broader growth strategy by cultivating future-ready citizens, enhancing community resilience, and promoting inclusive participation in the transition to a greener, fairer and more resource-efficient region.

Brighton and Hove City Council

Brighton  and Hove City Council  is recognised as an established leader in advancing a place-based circular economy, embedding circular principles within its own services (procurement, planning, transport) and across sustainable economic development, net zero and community wellbeing. Through its 2025 to 2030 Circular Economy Routemap and Action Plan, the council is driving circular economy innovation by prioritising waste prevention, reuse, repair, skills development and circular business growth. Despite challenges, the city’s waste data shows the scale of the task: in 2024, Brighton and Hove generated 111,049 tonnes of waste, with 28% recycled or reused, highlighting both the opportunity and necessity for continued circular innovation. The city is also recognised internationally for environmental leadership, achieving a Carbon Disclosure Project A‑rating for climate action in 2025 for the third consecutive year – demonstrating strong evidence‑based planning and ambitious decarbonisation pathways. Brighton’s circular economy work is further supported by community‑driven initiatives, including skills, repair, reuse and low‑impact living networks championed by Circular Brighton and Hove, and the city’s longstanding leadership in sustainable food systems as a Gold Food Place.

Their Food Use Places project involves 16 partner organisations and has redistributed 1,018 tonnes of surplus food in its first year (April 2024 to May 2025). The 8 groups involved in the Surplus Food Network sourced food from all parts of the food system (farm, wholesale and retail) and either used it to make meals or redistributed it to over 50 community food projects (including food banks, affordable shops and meal projects).

The city has an active food redistribution network, supported through council partnerships with voluntary and community sector organisations. Surplus food from supermarkets, wholesalers and hospitality businesses is redistributed to community kitchens, food banks, pantries and social enterprises, helping to reduce food waste while addressing food insecurity. This circular approach delivers multiple co-benefits: preventing edible food from becoming waste, lowering carbon emissions associated with disposal and supporting residents most affected by the cost-of-living crisis. Food redistribution initiatives are increasingly linked to wider work on community food growing, nutrition and local supply chains, reinforcing a whole-system approach to circular food.

ReLondon

ReLondon is driving sustainable growth by empowering local communities to embrace the circular economy. For example, partnering with Hounslow Council, Heston in the Loop helped individuals and the community (businesses, schools and community organisations) in Heston transition to circular behaviours and practices.

Working with 21 delivery partners, the project had a strong focus on local resilience, building skills, and strengthening community cohesion through interventions and touchpoints designed to connect with people throughout their daily lives – at school, when shopping, at work, online or in a variety of community settings. Activities and interventions included repair cafes and workshops – upskilling the community, eco-refill shops in schools, repair education in schools for electricals and textiles, hands-on business support and apps facilitating zero-waste sharing in businesses and the community. For example, during the project, nearly 3,500kg of food was redistributed in the community, 87 events were run to upskill residents in reuse and repair, and 5,300 items were shared or rented. While providing affordable options for residents, the project also saved between 6.5 and 19 tonnes of carbon. Heston in the Loop also promoted participating businesses as circular champions, boosting their visibility and encouraging community engagement.

Bury Council

Bury Council in Greater Manchester ran a digital inclusion project to help over 700 residents who lacked access to technology. Funded by the local Digital Inclusion Fund, the programme provided second-life devices, affordable internet and training so people could use online services to access healthcare, education and jobs. This reduced isolation, built confidence and gave vulnerable people more equal opportunities to participate in modern society.

Coventry City Council

Similarly, for Coventry City Council, #CovConnects is Coventry’s digital inclusion programme, aiming to remove the barriers residents may face to access the digital world confidently and safely. Research shows 14,000 residents are completely offline with no device access, and for every 10 residents in the city, around only 4 will have access PC or laptop. The initiative operates a digital device bank, partnering with local businesses, anchor institutions and national suppliers to re‑use surplus laptops and smartphones and redistribute across the city.

To date, #CovConnects has distributed around 6,000 devices, supporting 188 programmes across the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, City Council services and NHS pathways. This includes community‑led provision such as homework clubs, community centres and food banks, temporary accommodation, and survivors of domestic abuse charities, alongside council services for job‑seekers, libraries, social care and healthcare settings. Devices are distributed through frontline services and trusted partners, ensuring they reach those with the greatest need and are embedded within ongoing support rather than provided as standalone hardware.

Coventry City Councils strategic partnership with Virgin Media O2 aims to establish Coventry as the UK’s first Digital Reuse for Social Good city, developing a sustainable, investable model that reduces electronic waste by giving devices a second life. This approach tackles inequalities and supports inclusive growth. This programme is normalising a culture of reuse in the city, with learnings transferable to other cities.

Darlington Borough Council

Based in the ground floor unit of a car park in Darlington, thanks to support from Darlington Borough Council, is a bustling school uniform exchange shop whose mission is simple: stop quality uniform from ending up in the bin. What started as a small operation now runs 5 days a week, staffed by a team of volunteers, and provides a new life for over 12,000 items of uniform in a year. The exchange accepts donations from across the community, checking the quality of each item to make sure that it meets their high standards. The items are then taken to a local laundrette who returns each item looking and smelling as good as new. The exchange’s offer of free uniform with a focus on sustainability helps parents make a great choice for both the planet and their wallets.

Leeds City Council and Kirklees Borough Council

Similar schemes operate successfully across the country, including in Leeds and Huddersfield, where schools and community groups worked with local authorities to set up the Leeds School Uniform Exchange and Kirklees Uniform Exchange where families donate outgrown clothes that are cleaned and then reused. This circular economy supports parents with the cost of school uniform while also keeping textiles out of landfill. At the same time, it promotes community inclusion by ensuring all children have access to good-quality uniforms, reducing stigma and strengthening local ties through shared responsibility. In 2023, the Leeds exchange hosted 98 pop-up shops, provided 16,714 uniform items free of charge and supported nearly 3,000 families, saving them an estimated £284,138 and saving the planet 60,170kg in avoided carbon emissions. Over the same period the Kirklees exchange provided 10,118 children with school uniform and other items including winter coats, hats and gloves.

Bristol City Council

The SOFA Project in Bristol provides an important contribution to the local community inclusion and supports Bristol City Council’s social care and crisis prevention aims by supplying refurbished furniture and essential household items to families experiencing financial hardship, including those supported by Early Help and Children’s Social Care. Access to safe, good‑quality household items at low or no cost enables social care professionals to establish and maintain stable home environments, reduce financial stress on vulnerable families and support children’s basic wellbeing needs. In 2023 to 2024, the project supplied over 500 families in social housing with free cookers and washing machines as well as furniture. The project also collaborates with local prisons to provide opportunities to build upcycling skills and support prisoners’ rehabilitation, celebrating their 200th successfully rehabilitated prisoner last year. The SOFA Project’s circular‑economy model also aligns with the wider strategic priorities around sustainability, responsible resource use and community‑based support.

Doncaster City Council

The Great Doncaster LESStival demonstrates how a community‑led, place‑based approach can scale circular economy action. In 2024, the council supported 36 activities, involving over 7,000 residents in reducing waste and sharing resources. By 2025, this grew to 82 funded activities, expanding participation and adding longer‑lasting circular initiatives such as repair, swap and sharing schemes. The 2025 programme also integrated employability and nature connectedness, linking circular practices with local skills, wellbeing and environmental goals. This phased approach has enabled communities to co‑design a self‑sustaining circular model, embedding long‑term behaviours and offering a replicable framework for other local authorities.

Incorporating circularity into spatial development strategies

Through spatial planning, local places have an opportunity to hardwire efficiency, economic opportunity and positive social and environmental outcomes into their communities from the outset. This section provides examples of how local places can successfully integrate circular economy approaches into:

• industrial development
• new development and the planning system
• adapting current infrastructure and the built environment to meet current and future needs
• the systems that support development in your community

Industrial development

Industry consumes significant resources (energy, water, materials and infrastructure) and generates waste streams such as heat loss, pollution and spent materials. Circular economy approaches aim to minimise inputs, maximise value from outputs and reduce waste through strategies like industrial symbiosis, co-location of complementary businesses and integration with renewable energy networks such as district heating. Spatial development plans can play a key role by encouraging these practices and designing industrial areas that enable resource sharing.

Digital platforms that map resource flows and identify opportunities for industrial symbiosis can unlock efficiency gains and new business models, particularly when industries share energy, water and logistics infrastructure. National programmes from UKRI, Innovate UK and national government departments can provide funding and expertise,  helping regions attract green investment and position themselves as leaders in sustainable industrial development.

Mayoral strategic authorities can accelerate this transition by creating circular innovation zones, supporting circular economy accelerators and leveraging blended finance models to attract investment in infrastructure through their spatial development strategies.

West Midlands Combined Authority

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is using industrial symbiosis to drive its circular economy strategy by helping businesses reuse waste streams across sectors. One clear example of industrial symbiosis is the West Midlands Resource Reuse Network. This project connects businesses in manufacturing and construction to reuse materials such as sand, wastewater and metals that would otherwise be discarded. For instance, sludge and wastewater from one company can be repurposed by another as raw material, while surplus sand from construction can be reused in other industrial processes. By doing this, firms save money, reduce landfill use and cut carbon emissions.

Alongside these initiatives, WMCA has also unlocked circular‑economy opportunities through land regeneration, such as investing around £7.6 million to bring the long‑abandoned former Rolls‑Royce site in Ettingshall back into productive use. By clearing and redeveloping the derelict land into the new G5 Industrial Park, WMCA transformed a dormant industrial asset into space for modern businesses, supporting jobs and sustainable growth across the region.

Bunhill 2 Energy Centre, Islington

The Bunhill 2 Energy Centre in Islington captures waste heat from the London Underground’s ventilation system and channels it into a district heating network that supplies more than a thousand homes, a school and 2 leisure centres. It is estimated that 500 tonnes of CO₂ is saved per year due to the heat recovery system. London is also exploring how to harness the large amounts of excess heat produced by its many data centres. They plan to integrate this feature into future heat networks as part of the city’s wider decarbonisation strategy.

By working strategically with local industries, mayoral strategic authorities can support communities and other local industries to make use of resources, like thermal energy, which would otherwise go to waste.

Civic Quarter Heat Network, Manchester

The Manchester Civic Quarter Heat Network draws on energy-from-waste plants and industrial sources to provide low‑carbon heating to landmark buildings such as the Town Hall, Central Library and Manchester Art Gallery. This network is designed to expand further, connecting more homes and businesses and plays a central role in Greater Manchester’s ambition to reach carbon neutrality by 2038. While residual waste treatment (including energy from waste contracting) is typically a local authority or waste‑authority function, mayoral strategic authorities can have an important role to play in supporting cross‑boundary heat network planning and infrastructure alignment.

New development and the planning system

Local authorities can use existing levers in the planning system to reduce waste, cut environmental impacts, and deliver positive social and economic outcomes.

Planning policies can encourage a ‘retrofit’ approach, significantly lowering the carbon footprint of development and reducing construction disruption impacts for local residents. They can also support material re‑use in construction, reducing waste while creating new opportunities for SMEs. Circular design standards can ensure developments consider their full lifecycle.

This reduces embodied carbon, safeguards heritage and promotes sustainable regeneration.

Local authorities play a critical role in shaping sustainable communities. Adapting current infrastructure and buildings through circular economy principles reduces waste, lowers carbon emissions and ensures assets remain fit for future needs.

As a mayoral strategic authority, you can encourage regional consistency and best practice to support sustainable growth and development goals.

Construction projects could prioritise the retention and refurbishment of existing structures over demolition, incorporate adaptable and modular design, and use durable, repairable, and recyclable materials.

You may consider supporting the adoption of circular economy statements and whole‑life carbon assessments across the region through strategic frameworks and partnership with local planning authorities.

A circular economy statement and a whole life carbon assessment demonstrate how schemes will minimise waste and enable future reuse of components. To support long-term sustainability, developments could also be required to provide material inventories or passports, plan for deconstruction rather than disposal, and integrate infrastructure for water reuse, renewable energy, and facilitate local material exchange and repair hubs.

Mayor of London’s Circular Economy Strategy Policy

The Mayor of London’s Circular Economy Statement policy is a globally recognised policy that has required, since 2022, all the largest developments to demonstrate the integration of circular economy design principles in their project through the submission of a written report, including a pre-redevelopment audit or pre-demolition audit, and an operational waste management plan. Developers should also submit a detailed bill of materials and a recycling and waste reporting table that demonstrates the achievement of several circular economy targets, including the achievement of 20% reused or recycled content in new buildings. Data from 2022 and 2023 shows that this has led to a significant reduction of waste arising and materials required for large developments.

Kent County Council

Kent County Council has integrated circular economy principles into its spatial planning to create a more resource‑efficient and resilient built environment. Through the Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan and its Circular Economy Topic Paper, the council safeguards land for reuse, repair, recycling and other circular‑economy infrastructure, ensuring materials can stay in circulation. New developments are expected to show how they minimise waste, use resources efficiently and support material recovery, with practices like modular construction, adaptable design and material reuse encouraged, using the Kent Design Guide – Kent County Council as a practical showcase.

These policies have been reinforced by linked projects such as BLUEPRINT to a Circular Economy and Upcycle Your Waste helping communities, businesses, and their boroughs and districts put circular principles into practical action. From linking schools with local repair cafes through eWaste Warriors, to working with the Kent Resource Partnership and contractors through their Nothing Wasted campaign, to developing a circular route map and reuse strategy; helping realise the true value of waste for and with their communities has been key.

This is being taken to the next stage through United Circles in helping set up and embed both online and physical material exchange hubs for a range of resource flows across the county and the wider region. This Southeast England Hub 4 Circularity is working with local, regional, national and international actors to establish and normalise the use of secondary raw materials. Many sectors, supply chains and business cases will not fit neatly into legislative geographies and require close collaboration across borders and boundaries. Together, these efforts align planning, engagement and economic development to support circular behaviours, reduce reliance on linear resource use and strengthen the county’s long‑term sustainability.

Westminster City Council

Westminster’s new retrofit first approach, or ‘Policy 43’, ensures demolition only occurs where it is the only option and drives long-term and mutually reinforcing social value into local communities. In Queen’s Park, a typical house was upgraded with insulation and efficient heating to demonstrate over 50% reduction of energy‑saving measures. Similarly, at 90 Long Acre, developers chose to retrofit and extend the existing office building rather than demolish it and retained over 80% of the original structure. Both highlight how Westminster is cutting carbon and waste by prioritising retrofit over new builds. The policy provides a framework to embed circular systems approaches into the planning system when considering individual applications.

Making space for innovation and growth  

Innovation networks are typically set up as place‑based partnerships that bring together local authorities, universities, business groups and anchor institutions to support high‑growth firms and emerging innovators. They are usually formed around a geographic area or a shared sector priority, with each network coordinating funding, business support and collaboration opportunities.

Mayoral strategic authorities can foster the collaborations and partnerships to sustain these innovation networks, as well as supporting them to access key resources like space, where meanwhile-use sites can be put to effective use to generate positive outcomes for local growth and community benefits.

London

In London, innovation partnerships are sustained through a blend of local authority investment, national innovation funding and backing from institutions such as NHS trusts, universities and London & Partners. These networks offer a ready‑made platform to connect local businesses into London’s wider innovation ecosystem, helping them access expertise, showcase new ideas and scale more quickly. Events like Circular Economy Week illustrate how these networks bring innovators together and highlight the value of coordinated place‑based support.

The London Borough of Newham and Greater London Authority (GLA) have supported organisations like YES MAKE, which embeds circular practices into design and construction, to access the space needed for a circular materials reuse hub. This includes Tipping Point East in the Royal Docks – a meanwhile‑use (awaiting development) site brokered by the GLA that brings together YES MAKE, RESOLVE Collective and Material Cultures to collectively develop end‑to‑end circular solutions for the construction industry. On this site, YES MAKE is growing its innovative business and the capacity to support London’s ambitious sustainability agenda through careful deconstruction and salvage of building materials for reuse into socially impactful new projects. Uniquely, YES MAKE specialise in designing and building (alongside material supply), enabling them to deliver the interior fitout and exterior fabric of buildings using entirely reused materials.

Mayoral strategic authorities can support circularity by supporting innovators and SMEs to use available space as circular materials hubs, support partnership working and collaboration by bringing developers together with reuse partners to make circular aspirations and reality, and by collaborating across internal departments such as estates, business and sustainability to foster opportunities that tick boxes for communities across the board.

Implementing circular approaches

This section provides some pointers to mayoral strategic authorities, building on lessons learned from peers, on how to embed and implement circular approaches in their operations.

Across England, mayors are showing how visionary leadership can drive circular growth and community resilience. In London, ReLondon has been set up as a partnership of the Mayor of London and London’s boroughs to help businesses and communities embrace reuse, repair and recycling, positioning the capital as a global hub for circular innovation.

ReLondon drafted the first circular economy route map is a key strategic document that provides guidance for the acceleration of London’s transition to become a circular city. The route map is an action-orientated document, developed in partnership with stakeholders, which quantified estimated economic benefits to the city of the circular economy transition.

In Greater Manchester, the Mayor has set a bold target of becoming carbon neutral and zero waste by 2038, backing this up with initiatives like the Renew scheme, which diverts household items from landfill and channels funds into local charities. Meanwhile, in the West Midlands, mayoral leadership has produced a Circular Economy Routemap that leverages the region’s industrial strengths to embed circularity in manufacturing and construction.

Work across departments

Collaboration between internal departments will be a critical first step in ensuring a shared understanding, and that circularity is embedded in central operations. For example, initial mapping of circular opportunities should be a collaboration between departments to allow synergies to be identified and opportunities maximised. Any interventions should dovetail into the work of other departments rather than be considered in isolation. While all teams should be engaged, key teams to consider here could include planning, procurement, waste, social care, housing and economic development. There should also be collaboration with other government departments who deal with local government reorganisation in line with English devolution.

Mayoral strategic authorities can build circular economy capability by embedding knowledge across teams and accessing specialist training. Options include ReLondon’s Circular Economy Academy for local authorities, short online certifications such as the Certified Professional in Circular Economy for Government and an executive programme like the University of Exeter’s masterclasses developed with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Free resources, including UNIDO’s ‘Industrial Policies for a Circular Economy’ course and tools from Project BLUEPRINT, provide practical frameworks and skills development. These programmes cover strategy, procurement, industrial symbiosis and innovation, helping authorities lead the transition to a resilient, circular economy.

Engage with networks and collaborate

Communities of practice are vital for embedding circularity because they create spaces for shared learning, collaboration and problem-solving. They bring together practitioners, policymakers and businesses to exchange knowledge, test ideas and scale best practices. Mayoral strategic authorities and their constituent local authorities can strengthen their circular economy strategies and approaches by joining established networks. Options include ReLondon’s Circular Neighbourhoods initiative, which supports UK councils with toolkits and peer learning;  the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s CE100, connecting global innovators and regions; and academic hubs such as UCL’s Circular Cities Hub. These networks help authorities access expertise, funding opportunities, and partnerships to accelerate circular initiatives.

Many anchor institutions beyond local government are also actively pursuing circular economy approaches, for example hospital trusts and the prisons service. By collaborating with local anchor institutions, mayoral strategic authorities can expand the impact of circular economy approaches to the wider benefit of their communities. Collaboration with anchor institutions on procurement approaches, reuse infrastructure and building more localised supply chains can reap benefits for all partners.

Engage and empower the community

Effective circular economy engagement is collaborative, inclusive and embedded early in policy design. It involves businesses, institutions and communities from the outset, supported by public awareness and co‑creation to build ownership and trust. Community initiatives such as local food systems, composting and circular business maps empower residents, foster social cohesion and strengthen local economies. Broad engagement across supply chains and sectors extends product lifecycles, reduces waste and unlocks new value streams, delivering environmental, social and economic benefits.

Amsterdam’s Circular Economy Strategy

A strong illustration of effective engagement in the circular economy can be seen in Amsterdam’s Circular Economy Strategy. Adopted in 2020, the strategy set ambitious targets to halve raw material use by 2030 and achieve full circularity by 2050, underpinned by structured collaboration with businesses, social enterprises and communities. Local initiatives such as repair cafés, composting schemes and neighbourhood food networks empowered residents to participate directly in shaping their economy, while public awareness campaigns built understanding and support. Citizen co‑creation was central, with residents contributing to circular business maps that fostered pride and visibility of sustainable practices.

These measures delivered tangible outcomes, including reduced construction waste, growth of repair and sharing initiatives, and enhanced business resilience. The Amsterdam case demonstrates that when engagement is embedded early, supported by clear policy frameworks and designed to distribute benefits equitably, circular economy initiatives can simultaneously advance environmental goals, strengthen communities and create new economic opportunities.

ReLondon’s Circular Neighbourhoods

A strong example of circular economy engagement in England can be found in ReLondon’s work on Circular Neighbourhoods. This initiative embeds circular practices at the community level by working with local authorities, businesses, social enterprises and residents to co‑design neighbourhoods where repair, reuse and recycling are the default options. Citizen co‑creation is central, with residents shaping local projects, while public awareness campaigns promote community surplus food cafes, repair cafés, sharing schemes, local circular businesses and sustainable consumption habits.

These measures have delivered tangible outcomes, including increased access to repair and reuse services, reduced household waste, improved recycling rates, significant social value and strengthened local economies through new jobs and enterprises. The London case demonstrates that when communities are empowered through structured engagement and supported by clear policy frameworks, circular economy initiatives can simultaneously advance environmental goals, foster social cohesion, and generate economic opportunities.

Embed monitoring and evaluation

Monitoring and evaluation remain essential for circular economy strategies, but they need to go beyond traditional metrics. Circularity is systemic, so tracking only economic or environmental indicators risks missing the bigger picture.

You should consider measuring resource flows, waste reduction and life cycle impacts, while also capturing social value such as community wellbeing, job creation and skills development. Embedding these dimensions into evaluation frameworks demonstrates how circularity delivers broad benefits, producing data-driven insights that support continuous improvement, demonstrate ‘what works’ and unlock future funding

The government is working to develop monitoring and evaluation toolkits for circularity in local places, to support local areas in evaluating and delivering effective circular economy initiatives. This will include generating evidence of what works, share best practices and provide practical tools to embed circularity into planning, procurement and delivery.