Built Environment Archives

We accelerate innovation in the built environment, helping to create sustainable buildings, smart infrastructure, and inclusive urban spaces across the UK.

Our projects focus on decarbonising the built environment, harnessing digital technologies, and enabling connected, resilient communities.

1.5 million homes

Target for new homes to be built by the end of this Parliament

26%

Proportion of UK greenhouse gas emissions from buildings and product use in 2022.

£11 billion

Potential savings from spatial planning reforms to unlock critical infrastructure.

Without this programme (Homes for Healthy Ageing), we would not have achieved the range of learning we did. It’s been an opportunity to change the way we deliver homes in the future, so it’s exciting to see how we can drive the next stage of learning and delivery.

Graham Scanlan

Assistant Director of Housing & Communities, Sunderland City Council

By 2050

80%

of households will live in homes already built

To meet net zero targets

1 million
homes

need retrofitting each year

Our focus areas

Sustainable buildings and infrastructure

We support the development of energy-efficient, inclusive, and safe buildings and infrastructure. Our work includes decarbonising the built environment, improving lifecycle management, and promoting efficient and healthy homes.

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Urban design & place making

We help create connected, thriving urban spaces through innovative planning, design, and collaborative co-creation. Our focus is on aligning spatial planning with infrastructure development to unlock investment and improve quality of life.

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Digital Construction

Digital Construction International Programme (DCIP) provides strategic and technical expertise to support the adoption of digital construction across national and local infrastructure organisations, public policy units, programme teams, and individual projects.

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Driving collaborative innovation for Infrastructure

Explore how the Infrastructure Industry Innovation Partnership (i3P) facilitates collaboration between infrastructure operators, supply chains, and innovators to increase productivity, improve safety and reduce carbon emissions.

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Open Calls

Have an innovative pilot, product, or solution?

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Enabling and Protecting Multi-Fuel Ecosystems at Airports

The Aviation industry is committed to decarbonise and alternative fuels such as hydrogen and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) are emerging as key solutions to reduce its carbon footprint. However, the introduction of these fuels brings new and complex cyber-physical security challenges.

An airport runway at sunset with several airplanes parked and one being towed by a ground vehicle.

Project

Zero Emission Airports (ZEA)

Decarbonising airport operations and developing the infrastructure to support zero-emission flight

Female IT programer working on desktop computer in data

Project

Cybersecurity and Operational Modelling in Transport

As the UK’s cybersecurity landscape evolves, the demand for advanced skills continues to grow.