The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) welcomes James Brokenshire MP as the new Housing Secretary.
RIBA President Ben Derbyshire says:
“The RIBA welcomes James Brokenshire MP as the new Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. In recent months the Ministry has increased its focus on design and build quality and we hope this agenda will continue to be prioritised by Mr Brokenshire.
Only last week, MHCLG ministers confirmed, at their Housing Quality Conference, that driving up standards in design and build quality is key to tackling the housing crisis and meeting supply targets. We stand ready to support this effort at RIBA. We also need to see greater investment in social housing, more radical moves to provide councils greater powers to build, and fresh thinking on how infrastructure can be used to create better communities.
We also look forward to working with Sajid Javid MP as the new Home Secretary. The RIBA’s 2018 Brexit survey showed that building confidence in the post-Brexit immigration system is a top concern for many architects, particularly talented EU citizens who currently run and work in practices across the UK. We will continue to make the case for a flexible, diverse architecture sector to the Home Office, including reforms to the visa system and ensuring that the mutual recognition of architects’ professional qualifications with the EU is retained post-Brexit.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. For further press information contact Abigail Chiswell-White at Abigail.Chiswell-White@riba.org or +44 (0)20 7307 3811
2. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a global professional membership body that serves its members and society in order to deliver better buildings and places, stronger communities and a sustainable environment. Follow @RIBA on Twitter for regular updates http://www.twitter.com/RIBA
