About the RIBA Public Affairs Team

Architecture is political - because architecture is really all about issues such as where we live, how our children are taught, how we are treated when we are ill or the quality of our neighbourhoods. It is the job of the RIBA's Public Affairs team to raise the profile of architecture among decision-makers in Westminster and Whitehall and, in doing so, help them realise that architecture and good design touch on everybody's lives at all sorts of everyday levels.

 

Contact the Public Affairs team  |

Update

September 2009

The RIBA is launching its manifesto for the next general election at the party conferences this Autumn. You can download the manifesto here:

August 2009

The RIBA has responded to consultations on Counter-terrorism |and design, a consultation on amendments to planning permissions |and the investigation into fair access to the professions.   |We have also responded to the Conservative party's consultation on housing|.

The RIBA will be at the political party conferences in the Autumn. For details about our fringe events click here.|

 

March - May 2009

The Government has announced its strategy "World Class Places" which aims to take a strategic approach to design and bring together cross-Government initiatives. The RIBA is particularly pleased to see the announcement of new minimum design standards for all new public buildings, beginning with schools.

We look forward to the publication of an action plan by summer 2009 and to working together with Government to deliver on these objectives.

To see RIBA's response to the announcement click here|

See the strategy here|

 

The RIBA has responsed to the Department for Energy and Climate Change's consultation on its draft Heat and Energy Saving Strategy. Amongst the key messages in the RIBA response are that the Government need to go further and faster on it's timetable to upgrade the energy efficiency of our existing housing stock, and points out that architetcts have a key role to play in developing innovative solutions to retrofitting our buildings.

See the RIBA's response to the consultation here

 

January - March 2009

How do we achieve the Government's ambitious target of ensuring that all new buikd homes are zero-carbon by 2016, and indeed what should zero-carbon be defined as? These questions and more were answered by the RIBA in it's offical response to the Communities and Local Government consultation "Definition of Zero Carbon Homes and non-Domestic Buildings"

The Institute has called for a reclassification of district power and heating schemes, alongside a national energy trajectory to underpin future efforts to achieve 80% zero carbon by 2050. This would plot the UK's route to decarbonising our energy supply, helping to address what constraints and opportunities exist in applying different clean energy technologies, and providing a roadmap and thereby increased certainty to local decision makers, the construction industry and its clients.

RIBA response to the CLG consultation on the Definition of Zero Carbon|

 

The RIBA has responded to the Government's Panel On Fair Access To The Professions, which the Prime Minister has asked Alan Milburn to chair. The panel will look into how to increase participation from under-represented groups in the professions, examing what barriers exist and what could be done to remedy the situation.

RIBA response to Fair Access To the Professions Panel Call for Evidence |

 

The RIBA has long supported the appointment of a Government Chief Construction Officer, arguing that the construction sector requires an empowered individual at the heart of Government to promote sustainable procurement and construction.

RIBA response to consultation on a Chief Construction Officer  |