The Built Environment Trust

Analysis

The Built Environment Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in September 2015, 11 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under environment and conservation. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 09631202). It says it provides services, provides advocacy/advice/information and sponsors or undertakes research.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The Built Environment Trust reported income of £2.7m and spending of £2.9m, spending 107% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £2.0m to £2.7m (+34%), an average of +7.5% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income rose by 18%. Over the whole period it spent 113% of the income it received.

Among 4,574 England and Wales charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, The Built Environment Trust sits at the 97th percentile: it is larger than about 96% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 97th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Canterbury Archaeological Trust Limited (£2.7m), The British Institute of International and Comparative Law (£2.7m) and Heritage Concern Foundation (£2.7m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from trading 98% and investments 1.5%. Charitable activities took 15% of spending and raising funds 81%. Reserves of £1.5m would cover about 6 months of spending at that rate. It employed 17 people.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.