LCA or Life Cycle Assessment / Case for Demolition Reports (planning): A comprehensive report detailing your building project’s total carbon footprint.

A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Report for planning is a technical document that systematically evaluates the total environmental impact of a construction project across its entire lifespan, from raw material extraction (“cradle”) to disposal (“grave”). It quantifies environmental burdens, including embodied and operational carbon emissions, resource depletion, water usage, and waste generation, to inform sustainable decision-making and ensure regulatory compliance. 

A Case for Demolition Report (also known as a Demolition Justification Statement) is a planning document used to justify the proposed demolition of an existing building. This report is often required when the building is in a conservation area, is considered to make a material contribution to local character, or where planning policy presumes against demolition. 

Key Components

Report Type	Purpose	Key Information Included
Life Cycle Assessment	To measure and minimize the environmental footprint of a development project, compare material/design options, and demonstrate sustainability credentials.	Goal and scope; Life Cycle Inventory (input/output data on energy, materials, waste, emissions); Impact Assessment (quantifying impacts like global warming potential, resource depletion); Interpretation (conclusions and recommendations for improvement); Data on material extraction, manufacturing, transport, use, maintenance, and end-of-life phases.
Case for Demolition	To provide a reasoned justification for the necessity of demolition, especially for buildings that might otherwise be protected by planning policy.	Reasoned justification for demolition (e.g., structural condition, unsuitability for reuse, financial viability); Evidence (e.g., structural surveys, viability assessments); Details of the proposed works; Measures to minimize waste through reuse and recycling of materials; Future use of the site (often required as part of a wider redevelopment application).

Summary

In the planning context, these reports work together to ensure that demolition is a last resort, thoroughly justified, and that the subsequent redevelopment is as environmentally sustainable as possible across its whole life cycle. The LCA focuses on the quantitative environmental metrics of the entire building lifecycle, while the Case for Demolition concentrates specifically on the justification and waste management strategy for removing the existing structure.