We help public sector clients to develop robust, evidence-based policy that withstands scrutiny and guides positive development. Arup’s expertise in policy-making comes from our experience of undertaking rigorous research and evidence-based analysis. But because of the firm’s broad practical experience in the built environment, we also understand the point where policy and the real world meet. 

We provide strategic policy advice and research to clients including international and national government agencies, regional partnerships, local authorities and the private sector. Our experience brings particular insight to policy relating to town planning, land use and construction, housing, economic development, infrastructure provision and funding, transport, sustainability and climate change.

How we help you

Identifying policy needs

Arup’s policy consulting work has helped shaped the thinking of national and local governments over many decades. Our breadth of economic, policy and technical expertise means we’re a strong partner for governments and authorities hoping to lead long-term change on public planning priorities – from housing to energy development or climate change. We have contributed to the planning systems in the US, Australia, China and the Middle East.

Our policy experts are helping clients, including city authorities around the world, to respond to climate change. Arup’s wide-ranging expertise means that we understand influences on community resilience – from secure water supply to building retrofit. With that knowledge, we can help policy-makers understand the challenges ahead and put the best possible guidance in place.

Policy planning is also part of our work with C40 Cities, helping them to shape urban development in places as varied as Ho Chi Minh City, Melbourne, Toronto, and São Paulo.

Indianapolis Inner Loop Visionary Study
The interstate system that encircles downtown Indianapolis, known as the Inner Loop, was originally built in the 1970s and has significantly influenced the urban development of the city. To inform the community-led plans for the Inner Loop redesign, we conducted a feasibility study. The report offers a comparison between rebuilding the Inner Loop as-is and recreating it as a recessed highway, outlining the environmental impacts, economic development opportunities, community benefits, and cost analysis of both options. The study found that the recessed interstate concept is technically feasible, which could have overwhelmingly positive benefits for surrounding communities.

External assessment and evaluation

Our planning policy teams helps public sector and government clients to define or review their priorities, structure, delivery mechanisms or funding models. In this role our value lies in providing a neutral, externally authoritative evaluation of what’s working, what’s not and our ability to identify emerging areas of concern that policy should address.

We helped Westminster City Council to assess the effectiveness of its City Planning Delivery Unit with a view to carefully managing a budget reduction while retaining core corporate functions. We have also reviewed the delivery of archaeological services for Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, where we considered the potential savings that could be realised through reorganising the existing shared service arrangements.