RIBA argued that repealing the Architects Act would advance the institution’s ‘campaign on competence’, and pushed for the introduction of reserved activities for competent professionals, overseen through a new Built Environment Council.
The demand is one of four priority areas set out in its Towards Tomorrow’s Architecture plan.
The programme is also targeting improvements to education and a five-year route to becoming an architect, and championing better business practices, which includes sharing fee information for clients, calling for regulatory reforms and raising the profile of the profession.
The Architects Act 1997 was the legislation brought into establish the Architects Registration Board, as well as all of the regulator’s statutory duties and responsibilities, ensuring that only those on the ARB register may legally call themselves an ‘architect’. Repealing this legislation would mean the end of the ARB as the official industry regulator.
In December, Chris Williamson announced he would become the first president in RIBA’s post-1945 history not to be a qualified architect by refusing to renew his subscription – a dramatic move which he claimed would ‘draw attention to the absurdity of the current regulatory framework’.
RIBA said it will set out further detail next month on its new regulatory proposals in a response to the government’s consultation on the current architectural regulatory framework.
In RIBA’s formal response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, it said it would be interested in exploring a regulatory model similar to that of the current Engineering Council. The Engineering Council is a profession-led regulator which was established by royal charter, rather than an act of parliament.
Also in the reform strategy are plans to draw up more detailed guidance for clients on how much architects charge for work. This will initially mean gathering data from small practices and exploring how this can be incorporated into advice shared with domestic clients.
Jack Pringle, chair of the Board of Trustees at RIBA, said: ‘The architecture profession is evolving, and RIBA is leading that change. This plan sets out our full commitment to breaking down the systems and barriers that can limit opportunity and progress.
‘From reforming professional regulation, to boosting business skills and viability through lifelong learning and specialist training, to raising the profile of architects so people truly understand the value we bring – change is urgently needed. Some of this work is already under way, and some of the actions on the table are ambitious, but we are ready to meet the challenge.’
The plans also commit to developing a new Master of Business Administration in Architecture qualification, as well as improving both private public procurement processes.
Further details of the targets, including opportunities for member engagement and consultation, will be announced in the coming months.