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David Chipperfield is one of 35 signatories of an open letter, published in The Times on 16 January, calling on the UK Government to adopt the recommendations of the Architects’ Journal’s RetroFirst campaign and facilitate the re-use of existing buildings. As host for the United Nation’s climate change conference later this year, the UK should set an example and urgently address policy change to promote a circular economy in the construction industry, such as cutting VAT on refurbishments, changing planning and building regulations as well as favouring re-use solutions for all public projects. The industry is currently responsible for 45% of the the nation’s carbon emissions and it is estimated that over 50,000 buildings are demolished each year in the UK.