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The Built Environment is fundamental to the social and economic health of the nation. Encompassing property, construction and facilities management, the built environment industry represents some 20% of the UK’s GDP, equating to around £230bn in 2004 and is therefore a major national economic driver.
The products of the built environment provide the infrastructure within which the rest of the economy operates, influence all aspects of our quality of life and enable the economy and society to function. Our stock of buildings and works represents two thirds of UK manufactured capital and around 20% of total national wealth.
Because it is so large and multi faceted, the National Platform is approaching research in the built environment in distinct, though overlapping, sub-sectors including new general building, housing, infrastructure, repair and maintenance, heritage and major projects. Some of the initial research issues have relevance to all subsectors; others are more specific in their application. The National Platform will address the emerging research agenda – and its implementation – paying close attention to all activities and types of development and the linkages among them.