Abstract Summary
As circular economy policies are employed to tackle unsustainable built environment patterns related to carbon emissions and inefficient use of resources, scholars warn about the inadequacy of such policies to support sustainable urban development. Siloed circular economy policies in the built environment have focused on applying circular strategies to construction practices. However, cities as complex adaptive systems require systemic interventions including ecologically regenerative and adaptation actions to bring about a more circular built environment and, ultimately, a circular city. Current circular built environment policies do not see the city for the buildings. This article analyses policy coherence, or the (mis)alignment and possible synergies, of circular built environment in the Greater London Area. Resorting to a circular city policy coherence framework, planning and environment policies document analysis and semi-structured interviews, both the state of circular built environment policy is assessed, and policy recommendations are provided. (include 3 main challenges to coherence and 3 main opportunities for enhancement –in the making). These findings can inform policy making to help improve systemic urban and metropolitan responses to the complex societal challenges imposed by the socio-ecological crisis.
