New London Architecture
The built environment is the UK’s largest economic sector.
Together, our sector contributes:
- 25% of UK GVA
- 1 in 8 jobs
- £168bn in exports
- A greater economic contribution than the financial services sector
Yet despite its scale and impact, the built environment is not recognised by government as a single economic sector. As a result, policy, regulation and decision-making remain fragmented across departments — slowing investment, reducing productivity and limiting growth.
Recognising the built environment as one sector would help:
- align policy across housing, infrastructure, planning, skills, transport, energy and investment
- unlock growth and support the delivery of the government's national missions
- strengthen productivity, investment and long-term economic resilience
- support the delivery of skills and workforce development across the sector
Why now?
In July 2026, Andy Burnham became Prime Minister, placing the built environment at the centre of his agenda. In his first speech as leader, he set out a premiership built around utilities reform, reindustrialisation and regeneration — including ambitions for hundreds of thousands of new council homes and a series of major rail projects.
A government that depends on the built environment to deliver its priorities is actively redrawing its industrial strategy right now. That is a narrow window in which to make the case for formal recognition — before the new framework is settled.
NLA is launching the new iteration of the One Built Environment campaign to bring together everyone who plans, funds, designs, builds and operates the places that shape our lives — and to call on government to formally recognise the built environment within the Industrial Strategy.
We are asking organisations across the sector to support the campaign and help make the case to government for change.
The research trilogy
Insight
Skills for Places: Inspiring Future City Makers
In this publication, we highlight the significance and value of the built environment industry and how we must all come together to demonstrate the skills and opportunities a career in our sector holds for young people and career changers. The report highlights the need to bring everyone together to forge a prosperous future for our sector.
Read more
Insight
Working in partnership with GLA Economics and LSE, new data uncovered by NLA and Polygon Place Strategy reveals that this sector contributes a quarter of Great Britain’s total GVA (£568 billion) - making it twice the size of the financial services sector - and employs 1 in 8 of the workforce, approximately 3.8 million people.
Read more
Insight
Connected Capital is NLA’s research spotlighting London’s built environment sector as a globally significant growth engine - demonstrating how its skills, expertise and innovation are exported worldwide, shaping cities, attracting investment and driving long-term economic value for both London and the UK.
Read moreHow to support the campaign
- Sign the One Built Environment Declaration
- Share the campaign across your channels - using the #1BuiltEnvironment hashtag
- Add the One Built Environment logo to your website, email signature or marketing materials
- Encourage colleagues, partners and clients to support the campaign
One Built Environment Asset Pack
Share the campaign, add the logo to your website and social media, share the briefing notes with your senior leadership team and help us to champion our great sector.
Read moreStay in touch
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