Call for evidence launched on future strategy for built environment professions

The UK Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has launched a public call for evidence to inform a new long-term strategy for built environment professions, trades and occupations.

While the strategy will apply to England only, the call recognises that professional bodies, supply chains and regulatory relationships operate across borders. The work may therefore have future relevance for architects and other built environment practitioners in the devolved nations.

Scope of the call for evidence

The call seeks views on how individuals and organisations operate across the building lifecycle, with a focus on the factors that influence professional practice.

Evidence is invited on:

• Skills, knowledge and capability across built environment roles, including how competence is demonstrated and maintained.
• Behaviours, conduct and culture, including the commercial, contractual and organisational factors that influence decision making.
• Accountability and personal responsibility, including how these are understood and applied by individuals and organisations.
• Education, training, competence and regulatory systems, and how they support or limit good practice.
• Interdependencies across the building lifecycle, from pre design through to occupation and maintenance.
• Practical actions for reform, including barriers to improving safety, quality and performance.

Responses are invited across five stages of the building lifecycle:

1. Pre design
2. Design and specification
3. Construction
4. Occupation
5. Maintenance

The call also considers cross cutting issues including planning, building control, inspection, enforcement and emerging technologies.

Why this is happening

The UK Government has highlighted longstanding challenges within the built environment sector, including fragmented accountability, inconsistent competence and commercial pressures that can affect safety and quality.

The Grenfell Tower Inquiry identified significant failings across design, materials, construction and professional practice.

The new strategy aims to take a whole system approach and will complement wider reforms, including the Single Construction Regulator, building control changes, construction products reform and the forthcoming Construction Jobs Plan.

Have your say

More information is available here. The call for evidence closes on Wednesday 12 August 2026.

RSUA is considering a response. If you would like to share your views, please contact Curtis Large, RSUA Policy and Public Affairs Officer, at curtis@rsua.org.uk