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The Grenfell Tower tragedy highlighted the need for much stronger controls and oversight into how the built environment sector is regulated. This includes the role of architects, and how we can support increased levels of competence and accountability within the profession.
As reported by the Architects Journal, we have been working with government and others across the sector to look at how the regulatory system can be strengthened.
In its response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report, the government made clear its commitment to build a regulatory system that the public can trust, and to deliver lasting cultural and behaviour change.
We have been in discussions with ministers about what changes might be needed to regulation to best support public safety, competence and accountability across the sector, and how in particular, the regulation of architects could be improved.
The title “architect” is protected in law under the Architects Act 1997 and regulation of this title remains an important safeguard for the public. We carry out more than 500 investigations into misuse of the title each year and take robust action where we find malpractice.
We have now asked the government to look more broadly at the way in which architects are regulated. This should include looking at whether the public interest would be better served if certain higher-risk design activities were subject to clearer requirements around competence and accountability.
Many countries regulate aspects of professional function in different ways, and we have encouraged government to review what a proportionate, system-wide approach in the UK could look like.
Architects do not work in isolation, but in collaboration with professionals from many different disciplines, so any reforms to the way in which architects are regulated must work alongside the government’s wider proposals in relation to the regulation of the built environment, considering how the whole system works to support competence, cultural change and accountability.
We also recognise the importance of the Principal Designer role as introduced under the Building Safety Act. Government reforms have placed greater emphasis on competence across the sector, and we believe there is an opportunity to strengthen arrangements for third-party assurance of competence in key roles, in the interest of public safety.
Our focus remains on delivering the Architects Act in a way that supports public safety and consumer protection, and we will continue to engage constructively with government and stakeholders as proposals for reform develop.
About the ARB
The Architects Registration Board (ARB) is the UK’s statutory regulator of architects. Our role and functions are set out in the Architects Act 1997. We protect the public interest by setting standards for entry to the Register of Architects, maintaining that Register, and holding architects to account through our regulatory framework. We are accountable to government for delivering our statutory functions.