A study by New London Architecture (NLA) and Polygon Place Strategy, in partnership with GLA Economics, and the London School of Economics and Political Science, revealed the built environment sector supports 3.7 million jobs – 12 per cent of total employment – and accounts for 24 per cent of the nation’s GVA.
The partners are now calling for a “big bang” approach, akin to the 1980s strategy when the banking, finance, insurance, law, and accountancy sectors united to define financial services as a single, strategic industry.
They argue that this would encourage greater collaboration and investment across industries like construction and planning, with the aim of positioning the built environment as a key growth sector, making it central to the UK’s economic strategy and addressing challenges like productivity, skills shortages, and innovation underinvestment.
NLA chief executive, Nick McKeogh said: “Redefining it as a high-growth sector in the industrial strategy – rather than as merely a facilitator of growth in other key sectors – would allow built environment industries to reach their potential.”
