A new step for net-zero urban transformation

In London, King's Cross had a remarkable transformation in pursuit of sustainable development to achieve the Net Zero Carbon (NZC) goal by 2035.

Buro Happold, partnered with King’s Cross Central Limited Partnership (KCCLP), crafted a decarbonisation strategy rooted in the UK Green Building Council’s framework and aligned with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C targets.

The plan is to reduce the energy use by over 50% and eliminate fossil fuels from the site’s operations.

The strategy involves:

• Implement an energy recycling system: Waste heat from office air-conditioning is repurposed to provide hot water for homes.
• Reforming the district heating system: Transitioning from gas-fired CHP units to heat recovery and ground or air source heat pumps.
• Installing smart lighting systems: From lighting upgrades to dynamic energy analytics, every building is assessed for deep retrofit potential.

The team conducted site audits, measurement studies, and an economic model to identify the most impactful interventions.

Also, trusted advisors like Related Argent and Metropolitan Kings Cross Ltd redesign the centralized systems and encourage tenants to change their habits to improve energy efficiency.

The scale of King's Cross, covering office buildings, shops, and homes built between 2013 and 2024, makes it one of the largest redevelopment projects in central London in over 150 years, and now is an example for sustainable urbanism, this project offers a replicable model for how data, design, and collaboration can come together to create a net zero future.

Sources: Buro Happold, King Cross’s Coal Drops Yard