Built Environment Sector

Lord Pitkeathley of Camden Town Excerpts

Tuesday 28th October 2025 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Lord Pitkeathley of Camden Town]

To ask His Majesty’s Government, in the light of the report from New London Architecture The Built Environment Sector, published on 16 September, what assessment they have made of the economic value of the built environment sector and its role in the national economy.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business and Trade and Department for Science, Information and Technology (Baroness Lloyd of Effra) (Lab)]

My Lords, His Majesty’s Government recognise the importance of the built environment. It contributes hundreds of billions of pounds annually to the UK economy, supports millions of jobs and underpins key areas such as housing, infrastructure and urban regeneration. It drives innovation, sustainability and regional development, making it essential to national growth, climate goals and global competitiveness. That is why the Government provide it with extensive support through funding, policy reforms, skills development and strategic planning.

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[Lord Pitkeathley of Camden Town (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend the Minister for that reply and welcome her to her first Oral Questions. I also welcome plans to streamline judicial review for nationally significant infra- structure, where cases currently average 1.4 years. Given similar delays in housing and other planning cases during an acute housing crisis—I declare an interest as someone who is trying to build a new park in north London—does the Minister agree that comparable reforms should be considered more widely across the planning system, and will she explore whether the legislation currently before this House offers any scope to do so?

[Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend for his active interest in this area. The nationally significant infrastructure projects regime is separate from other planning regimes and operates under different legislation. My noble friend will recognise that the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will speed up and streamline the delivery of new homes and critical infrastructure, supporting delivery of the Government’s plan for change milestones, building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in England, and fast-tracking 150 planning decisions for major economic infrastructure projects by the end of this Parliament.