Argent and Great Portland Estates PLC have joined Build UK, while a number of private developers have taken a keen interest in the organisation’s activities.

Build UK was created in 2015 in a merger between the National Specialist Contractors’ Council and UK Contractors Group.

The industry body aims to provide a unified voice for the contracting supply chain in construction, representing 11,500 specialist contractors.

Argent has produced several major developments in the mixed-use, commercial and residential sectors, including contributing to the partnership to develop a 67-acre site at King’s Cross.

Great Portland Estates manages a property portfolio of over £3.7bn, and its current projects at Rathbone Square, 73-89 Oxford Street and 160 Old Street are valued at £350m in total.

Build UK chief executive Suzannah Nichol was delighted by the addition of Argent and Great Portland Estates.

“Opening the Build UK discussions to construction clients will enable us to have the honest conversations our industry needs.

“This is particularly important if we want to change the industry for the better and to the benefit of the whole supply chain.”

Phil Sullivan, construction director at Argent, said: “As a construction client we are looking for certainty when delivering across our projects, and as such we are keen to engage with the Build UK membership.

“We now have a fantastic opportunity to work more collaboratively with the contracting supply chain and improve the quality and performance of our built environment, and I would encourage more clients to join us and help deliver lasting results for the industry.”

James Pellatt, head of projects at Great Portland Estates, added: “As a leading construction client, we understand the value of working closely with our main contractors and trade contractors, paying them regularly and promptly and listening to their suggestions.

“With design teams needing increasing assistance to fully design buildings, it is important to continue dialogue in a constructive and collaborative manner with our supply chain and Build UK provides us with a useful forum for debate.”