Mott MacDonald has signed the advance market commitment (AMC) for next-generation low carbon concrete, joining a coalition led by Innovate UK to support the UK’s shift to net-zero construction. The company has now aligned itself with a major national effort to accelerate the development and deployment of low carbon concrete solutions across infrastructure and building projects.
The AMC is designed to stimulate early demand for sustainable construction materials before they reach full commercial maturity. By establishing secure future purchase commitments, the programme aims to unlock investment, speed up scale-up and strengthen the market pathway for innovative low carbon concretes. Through its participation, Mott MacDonald has committed to supporting the use of low carbon concrete in suitable UK projects, advising clients on specification and procurement, and collaborating with supply chain partners to share data and learning. The company will also promote wider industry involvement while ensuring alignment with UK legal, health, safety and environmental requirements.
Announced in the Autumn Budget, the AMC brings together asset owners, designers and contractors to aggregate demand for up to 500,000m³ of low carbon concrete. Target product profiles set out the technical and commercial criteria that emerging solutions must meet. This framework provides clarity for developers and investors while giving industry partners confidence to adopt alternative cements and concrete mixes that reduce embodied carbon.
Mott MacDonald’s commitment to the AMC builds on long-standing involvement in decarbonisation across the UK cement and concrete sector. The company is currently delivering a major research and development programme in partnership with the Materials Processing Institute, the Mineral Products Association, a range of cement and concrete producers, and Aston University. Supported by Innovate UK, the project focuses on the standardisation of alternative cements derived from recycled materials. The work aims to support the commercial uptake of lower carbon concrete across the UK built environment by creating clear guidance and reducing barriers to adoption.
Net-zero construction
Richard Risdon, executive director and UK and Europe regional managing director at Mott MacDonald, said the AMC strengthens industry collaboration around net-zero construction. “Our commitment to the AMC and involvement in Innovate UK’s decarbonisation initiatives reflects Mott MacDonald’s determination to lead the transition to low carbon construction. By making commitments like this across the industry, we can accelerate innovation and deliver tangible carbon savings for clients and communities.”
The initiative also aligns with the needs of major infrastructure owners seeking reliable pathways to decarbonise construction. Heathrow’s chief communications and sustainability officer, Nigel Milton, noted the scale of opportunity: “Heathrow’s modernisation and expansion plans require hundreds of thousands of tonnes of concrete. Signing this advance market commitment sends a clear signal to innovators and suppliers: we are looking for practical, scalable solutions that cut carbon emissions across our construction projects.”
The AMC represents a coordinated effort to drive digital construction innovation and accelerate the commercialisation of low carbon concrete at scale. For engineering consultancies, contractors and asset owners, it offers a clear mechanism to support market readiness for emerging materials while advancing sector-wide net-zero goals. With organisations such as Mott MacDonald lending their weight, the UK’s transition to sustainable infrastructure continues to gain momentum.
Read next: CIOB closes 2025 with Houses of Parliament reception – Build in Digital
Are you a building professional? Sign up for a FREE MEMBERSHIP to upload news stories, post job vacancies, and connect with colleagues on our secure social feed.
