The UK’s built environment sector is an economic powerhouse, yet it lacks a nationwide source of trusted research and information. This debate will explore what needs to change.

The built environment generates 24% of UK GVA and supports one in eight jobs, making it a vital part of the national economy. Yet it does not attract the same level of attention as health, education, finance or IT. As NLA’s 2026 research highlighted, it is “an economic powerhouse hiding in plain sight”.

Yet, even as a powerhouse, the sector has its problems. These include an approach to building safety marked by ‘serious deficiencies’ [Grenfell Tower Inquiry Report, 2024]; carbon emissions that still need to reduce by 98.6% to achieve net zero by 2050 [Seventh Carbon Budget, CCC, 2025]; and productivity that lags well behind that of other industries [ONS, 2025]. 

The sector needs serious improvement. Critical to achieving this is access to good information and a reinvigorated culture of research and development.

From the privatisation of the BRE in 1997 onwards, UK PLC progressively reduced its public sector research capacity. This has led to a near-total reliance on the academic and consultancy sectors for information. As a result, the UK has lost access to robust data and evidence, and effectively control of successfully developing this key sector of the economy.

To help the sector realise its full potential, the Edge proposes the creation of a National Built Environment Research Organisation (NBERO), bringing together knowledge and expertise to support better outcomes, greater productivity and informed decision-making.

18:00   Arrivals

18:30   Welcome and debate
            Dr Barbara Lane, Chair Building Advisory Committee (chair)
               Speaker from NLA
            Professor William Powie, University of Southampton & Convenor UKCRIC
            Adala Leeson, Head of Social and Economic Research, Historic England (tbc)
            John Naylor, Senior Researcher, Ryder
            Simon Rawlinson, Arcadis & CIC Chair elect

20:00   End of debate

20.00   Networking
               The Anthologist, 58 Gresham Street, EC2V 7BB