RIBA responds to House of Lords ‘Building better places’ report

RIBA has responded to the ‘Building better places’ report published today (Friday, 19 February 2016) by the House of Lords Select Committee on National Policy for the Built Environment.

A number of key RIBA recommendations have been adopted by the Committee, including:

• The appointment of a Chief Built Environment Adviser, a recognised expert appointed from within the sector to lead this work at an official level
• The Government publishing, consulting and adopting a high level policy for architecture and place quality in England
• The Government making design review mandatory for all major planning applications
• The Government reversing its decision to remove the requirement for new homes to generate no net carbon emissions (known as the “zero carbon homes” policy) and its decision to remove the Code for Sustainable Homes.
• The Government taking steps to ensure that local authorities are able to fulfil their potential as direct builders of new mixed tenure housing. This should include reviewing the impact of borrowing restrictions and proposed social rent reductions.

RIBA President Jane Duncan said:

“I welcome this important report by the House of Lords. The RIBA will now get to work with our members and other professionals in the built environment to ensure these important policies are adopted by Government.”