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Urban Planning & Landscape Architectural Activities in the UK - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Kayleigh Murray Kayleigh Murray London, United Kingdom Last Updated: February 2024 SIC M71.112

Revenue

£576.2m

2024-25

£592.4m

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£XXX.Xm

Employees

10,253

Businesses

1,998

Wages

£XXX.Xm

Urban Planning & Landscape Architectural Activities in the UK industry analysis

Urban planners and landscape architects play a pivotal role in managing the growth of urban areas. The industry thrives on strategic planning for efficient land use, creating sustainable environments and contributing to infrastructure development initiatives. Significant investments from the private and public sectors and continuous urbanisation have powered demand for urban planners and landscape architects. However, economic hardship has been detrimental to performance, with Brexit, the COVID-19 outbreak and severe inflation weakening downstream activity and investment in projects. Revenue is expected to contract by 9.4% to £576.2 million over the five years through 2023-24, including a projected 7.3% drop in the current year.

Trends and Insights

  • The UK's economic recovery is impeded by inflation and uncertainty. High inflation, low business confidence and construction industry woes are stalling investments and dissuading major infrastructure projects.
  • The push to make urban areas greener boosts demand for urban planning services. There’s been a surge in demand for transport and city planning services to devise more eco-friendly building solutions, supporting urban planners.
  • London attracts a high number of urban regeneration projects. The capital is a commercial and financial hub that encourages many infrastructure projects, attracting urban planning and landscape architectural companies.
  • Start-up costs for new architectural companies can be steep. Hiring a team of skilled professionals and purchasing the latest technology are sizeable investments needed to compete with existing companies, eating into profit.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 9.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £576.2m in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Urbanisation and government support provide opportunities for urban planners and landscape architects

  • As urban areas expand, there’s a growing need for strategic planning to efficiently develop land use and create sustainable environments for more people. The urban population accounted for 84% of the UK population in 2022, as per data from The World Bank.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Urban Planning & Landscape Architectural Activities in the UK
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Improving economic conditions and government initiatives will fuel demand

  • UK inflation is forecast to continue dropping to the target level of 2% in the short term, boosting business sentiment. Improving economic conditions will drive construction activity and spur investment in new projects.

Biggest companies in the Urban Planning & Landscape Architectural Activities in the UK

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (£m)
2024
WSP UK Ltd
168.7
Building Design Partnership Ltd
87.4
Sweco UK Holding Limited
52.3

To view the market share and analysis for all 6 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Urban Planning & Landscape Architectural Activities in the UK
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Transport planning, Environmental planning and Land use planning. Transport planning is the largest segment of the Urban Planning & Landscape Architectural Activities in the UK.

Trends and Insights

Demand for transport planning has soared with the push for sustainability and over-crowded networks

  • Transport planners are tasked with improving and managing transport systems to make them more efficient and sustainable in different towns and cities.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Urban planners and landscape architects are involved in town and city planning activities to develop urban spaces for the benefit of residents and in landscape architecture.

What's included in this industry?

Transport planningEnvironmental planningLand use planningLandscape architectural designingTown and city planning

Companies

WSP UK LtdBuilding Design Partnership LtdSweco UK Holding Limited

Purchase this report to view all 6 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN (CAD)BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING (BIM)GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS)BROWNFIELD DEVELOPMENT

Industry Code

SIC 2007

SIC 71.11/2 - Urban Planning & Landscape Architectural Activities in the UK

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The UK's economic recovery is impeded by inflation and uncertainty. High inflation, low business confidence and construction industry woes are stalling investments and dissua...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

The push to make urban areas greener boosts demand for urban planning services. There’s been a surge in demand for transport and city planning services to devise more eco-fri...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

London attracts a high number of urban regeneration projects. The capital is a commercial and financial hub that encourages many infrastructure projects, attracting urban pla...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Start-up costs for new architectural companies can be steep. Hiring a team of skilled professionals and purchasing the latest technology are sizeable investments needed to co...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Recruiting and retaining skilled professionals is the key to success. Companies have to hire and retain talented urban planners and landscape architects to make the most of d...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of WSP UK Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Building Design Partnership Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Sweco UK Holding Limited's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 3 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for WSP UK Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Building Design Partnership Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Sweco UK Holding Limited, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 3 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Government spending heavily impacts demand for urban planners. Higher public spending means more infrastructure, public housing and institutional buildings, creating opportun...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

COVID-19 disruptions and lockdown restrictions limited construction activity. Falling business confidence and construction activity in 2020-21 led to reduced investments, cau...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Assets (2018-2022)
  • Liabilities (2018-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Urban Planning & Landscape Architectural Activities in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?

The market size of the Urban Planning & Landscape Architectural Activities in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £576.2m in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Urban Planning & Landscape Architectural Activities in the UK industry in 2024?

There are 1,998 businesses in the Urban Planning & Landscape Architectural Activities in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Urban Planning & Landscape Architectural Activities in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Urban Planning & Landscape Architectural Activities in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been declining at a CAGR of 9.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Urban Planning & Landscape Architectural Activities in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Urban Planning & Landscape Architectural Activities in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Urban Planning & Landscape Architectural Activities in the UK market in United Kingdom?

The biggest companies operating in the Urban Planning & Landscape Architectural Activities market in United Kingdom are WSP UK Ltd, Building Design Partnership Ltd and Sweco UK Holding Limited

What does the Urban Planning & Landscape Architectural Activities in the UK in United Kingdom include?

Transport planning and Environmental planning are part of the Urban Planning & Landscape Architectural Activities in the UK industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Urban Planning & Landscape Architectural Activities in the UK in United Kingdom?

The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is WSP UK Ltd.

How competitive is the Urban Planning & Landscape Architectural Activities in the UK industry in United Kingdom?

The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Urban Planning & Landscape Architectural Activities in the UK industry in United Kingdom.

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the UK include:

  • Office for National Statistics
  • Office for Budget Responsibility
  • Bank of England

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.