In a new five-year corporate strategy unveiled yesterday (19 February), the regulator says it is focusing on improving safety and strengthening professional competence over the next five years and considering title regulation.

In the 15-page document, the ARB committs to reviewing title regulation in the wake of a months-long debate around protection of function following RIBA president Chris Williamson’s decision in December not to renew his ARB registration.

The ARB said: ‘[We will] review our regulatory framework in light of the government’s post-Grenfell regulatory reform agenda. This will include assessing the effectiveness of title regulation and exploring alternative models that could better support our statutory purpose.’

Last month, ARB chief executive Hugh Simpson told the AJ in an exclusive interview that the board had been in discussions with the government about protecting function for ‘activities in architecture’ for more than a year about competency and accountability in construction.

He added that the regulator had also been urging the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to update and strengthen outdated legislation supporting its work in protecting the title of architect.

While it is currently a criminal offence to use the title ‘architect’ if not on the ARB register of qualified architects, anyone is allowed to perform architectural and building design tasks.

Late last year, Williamson announced he would not renew his ARB subscription in a protest at the ‘ineffectiveness’ of the current regulatory system for UK architects.

He said at the time: ‘This is not only a reaction to the doubling in ARB fees over the last few years but also a reflection on the absurd situation of paying a fee for a title with no regulation of function. I am hoping that there will be more urgency in addressing this situation, having taken this action.’⁠

Elsewhere, the ARB’s 2026-2030 corporate strategy commits to improving the standards of future architects by ensuring its education and training framework ensures all those entering the profession are competent.

It says that the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and the ARB’s own research has highlighted safety, competence and culture as key areas to focus on and by 2030 aims to ‘raise standards of future architects’, ‘drive competence across the profession’, ‘improve culture and behaviour’ and ‘deliver modern, effective and efficient regulation’. 

The ARB says it will prioritise assessing the changes it has made over the last five years to initial education and training and ‘look to make further improvements where they are needed’.

‘We are acutely aware that we are delivering these reforms at a time when higher education learning providers are experiencing changes in funding policies and structures, and have new challenges to which they must respond, such as the use of AI in study and assessments,’ it adds.

Last month it launched a consultation on plans to improve professional practical experience in architecture education.

The move would see the implementation of two key recommendations from a report into professional practical experience last year – to create a co-ordinating role for learning providers and to introduce a standardised record of competence for trainees.

The strategy adds that competence levels of already qualified architects will be raised through a its CPD scheme, which will also help tackle poor workplace culture.

‘The public expects architects to be highly skilled, utilising their expertise to keep people safe and improve their lives – and to go about their design process in an inclusive, respectful way, communicating clearly and listening to clients and communities,’ it says.

Those working in the sector should feel ‘more supported without fear of discrimination or sexual harassment’, the strategy document adds.

The ARB also says that the regulator has invested heavily in its IT structure so that the burden on architects registering and carrying out CPD is reduced.

‘Efficiencies in our operational processes will be demonstrated year-on-year as we control our costs base and support our strategic goals for long term financial sustainability.’

ARB chair Alan Kershaw said: ‘Architecture directly affects people’s safety and quality of life. Our job is to make sure that architects are competent, accountable and work in the public interest.

‘This strategy sets out how we will raise standards, strengthen education and continuing professional development and press on with our programme to modernise the way in which architects are regulated.

‘We recognise that the profession has been subject to substantial change and continuing challenge and the new strategy sets out how we will support the profession and enable learning providers to continue to innovate in the interests of trainees and architects of the future.’