UK · Updated 2026 · Explainer
Part Z & Embodied Carbon: Using Surplus Reclaimed Bricks in Nottingham
Whole-life carbon assessments are becoming mandatory on Nottingham projects. Reclaimed and surplus bricks is the fastest lever for reducing A1–A3 embodied carbon in East Midlands. This 2026 guide shows the numbers and the evidence you need.
Embodied carbon savings
Reclaimed bricks typically avoids 60–95% of the A1–A3 embodied carbon of a new equivalent. On a mid-size Nottingham project this can equal 4–12 tonnes CO₂e avoided.
Part Z timeline and what it requires
- Whole-life carbon assessment on all major projects
- Reporting to a central UK register
- Alignment with RICS WLCA methodology
- Evidence of material provenance
Building a compliant evidence pack in Nottingham
- Yard invoice with weight/quantity
- Photos and batch references
- Manufacturer EPD comparison for baseline
- Site delivery notes
Cost of bricks vs carbon benefit
| Grade | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Job-lot / bulk | £480 per 1,000 | Merchant clearance, palletised |
| Standard graded | £1,290 per 1,000 | Sorted, ready-to-fit stock |
| Heritage / premium | £2,100 per 1,000 | Character grade, hand-picked |
Embodied carbon: Reclaimed Bricks in Nottingham vs new
Choosing surplus or reclaimed bricks in Nottingham avoids the A1–A3 manufacturing emissions of newly produced stock. On a typical Nottingham project this equates to roughly 65–130 kgCO₂e per 1,000 — material evidence under Part Z, RICS WLCA and BREEAM Mat 06.
East Midlands local authorities increasingly request whole-life carbon evidence on planning submissions above 1,000 m². Keeping the yard invoice, batch photos and a provenance note against every bricks purchase inside NG1, NG7 and NG9 builds an audit trail that stands up to WLCA review.
- A1–A3 avoided: ~65–130 kgCO₂e per 1,000
- A4 (transport): actual mileage from the Nottingham yard to site
- A5 (installation): identical to new — labour and fixings unchanged
- Circularity indicator: 1.0 for reclaimed, 0.7–0.9 for surplus new
Expert tips from East Midlands trades
- Buy the whole pallet even if you only need 80% — you'll offload the rest on SurplusBuilder inside 14 days at 60–80% of what you paid.
- Book a Friday collection slot: Nottingham yards are quieter and forklift drivers have time, so you avoid the NG1, NG7 and NG9 weekday delivery crush.
- Ask for the yard's "just arrived" list — the best bricks moves before it hits public listings.
- Photograph everything on the vehicle before you leave — protects both parties if a defect surfaces on unloading.
VAT, warranty and paperwork in Nottingham
Reclaimed materials from private sellers are typically zero-rated for VAT. Surplus stock from VAT-registered East Midlands merchants carries standard 20% VAT — confirm before agreeing a price. Factory-fresh surplus retains its original manufacturer warranty when unregistered and stored correctly; keep the batch label and any BBA certificate alongside the invoice.
- Get a VAT invoice for surplus buys over £250 — it's deductible for trade
- Retain BBA / BS EN test certificates with the delivery note
- Photograph batch numbers on bricks packaging for retrofit and Part L evidence
- Log the Nottingham postcode of the source yard against the project record
Frequently asked questions
+Is Part Z law yet?
Not yet fully — it's a private-members bill and industry alignment. Adoption on public and BREEAM projects is already widespread.
+How is carbon quantified for surplus?
A1–A3 emissions are usually set to zero for genuine reclaim; A4 (transport) uses actual distance.
+How many bricks per m² of wall?
~60 per m² for a single skin, 120 per m² for a full brick wall, allow 5% waste.
+Is surplus bricks covered by manufacturer warranty in Nottingham?
Yes for factory-fresh over-orders and cancelled-order stock. The warranty runs from date of manufacture (batch label) rather than date of purchase — check the batch date before committing on large East Midlands orders.
+Can I count reclaimed bricks towards BREEAM Mat 06?
Yes — reclaimed materials attract full circularity credits under BREEAM Mat 06 and RICS WLCA. Keep provenance photos, yard invoice and transport mileage from Nottingham as evidence.
+What insurance sits behind a SurplusBuilder deal in East Midlands?
Verified sellers carry public liability and product-liability cover. Pallet-network deliveries insure to £1,300/pallet by default; declare higher values for premium bricks loads.