NLA this morning launched Connected Capital: London and the World’s Built Environment at MIPIM, bringing together leaders from government and industry to explore the global reach of London’s built environment sector and its role as a major driver of UK economic growth. 

The breakfast session on the London Stand featured contributions from Catherine Staniland, Chief Impact Officer at NLA; Howard Dawber OBE, Deputy Mayor for Business and Growth; Simon Povey, Head of UK and Europe at the Office for Investment; and Jo Negrini, Director at Arup. 

Opening the session, Catherine Staniland introduced the research and its central argument: that the built environment should be recognised as one of the UK’s most significant economic sectors and a major global export industry. 

She highlighted London’s role as a global centre for sustainable urban development, bringing together world-leading universities, expertise and industry to support cities worldwide, and emphasised that the capital remains open for business with a strong pipeline of international investment opportunities.

Howard Dawber reflected on London’s role as a global hub for built environment expertise and investment, and the importance of the sector in delivering economic growth. He highlighted the capital’s unique ability to connect global capital, talent and ideas with opportunities across the UK, as well as the importance of continued collaboration between City Hall, industry and international partners to strengthen London’s global competitiveness. 

Simon Povey spoke about the scale of the built environment sector as a driver of UK growth and international competitiveness, and the importance of global investment in delivering major infrastructure, regeneration and housing projects. He also outlined the role of the Office for Investment in connecting international capital with strategic opportunities across the UK economy. 

Jo Negrini reflected on London’s role as a gateway city for global built environment firms, highlighting how international businesses use London as a base for collaboration, knowledge exchange and inter-city learning. She also spoke about the strength of London’s built environment ecosystem, from its diverse neighbourhoods to its ability to convene industry leaders to address complex urban challenges. 

Connected Capital highlights the scale and international reach of the built environment sector. Previous NLA research shows the sector contributes £568 billion to the UK economy, almost a quarter of national GVA, and supports 3.8 million jobs. The new research also highlights its growing global impact, with UK built environment industries generating around £168 billion in exports each year, approximately 20% of total UK exports.

Drawing on new analysis with GLA Economics and case studies from firms delivering projects worldwide, the report highlights London’s role as a global hub for city-making expertise; connecting capital, talent and knowledge to projects across Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia. 

Connected Capital is the third report in NLA’s recent research trilogy, following Skills for Places: Inspiring Future City Makers and The Built Environment Sector, which together explore the scale, capability and future of the industry. 

Alongside the launch of the research, NLA also announced two new initiatives to strengthen the sector’s global networks: the Built World Summit, a new international gathering of city-making leaders taking place at Guildhall from 29 June - 1 July 2026, and the Built World Exchange, a year-round programme connecting London’s built environment expertise with partners worldwide.