Industry News
RIBA commits to climate emergency declaration and
action plan
The trustees of the Royal Institute of
British Architects’ (RIBA) have today
formally agreed to join the global
declaration of an environment and climate
emergency and to drive support for the UK
government’s commitment to a 2050 net
zero greenhouse gas emissions target.
The agreement was made at the triannual
meeting of RIBA Council members, which
brings together the elected trustees of the
RIBA to debate and discuss the biggest
issues facing the profession.
ramping up its actions.
RIBA Council acknowledged the scale of
the challenge and responsibility of built
environment professionals in playing their
part in tackling it.
For the UK to reach the government’s
target of net zero greenhouse gas
emissions by 2050, the architectural
profession must take a leading role,
New Chair elected at Building
Societies Association
Mike Regnier, Chief Executive of the Yorkshire Building Society has been
elected as the new Chair of the Building Societies Association. He takes up
this role with immediate effect.
Mike held the post of Deputy Chair since May 2018 and succeeds Stephen
Mitcham, Chief Executive of the Cambridge Building Society. At the same
time, Mark Bogard, Chief Executive of the Family Building Society has
been elected Deputy Chair of the BSA.
From May 2019, the term of office for the BSA Chair and Deputy Chair has
been extended from 12 months to 2 years.
Commenting on his election, Mike Regnier said: “I’m very pleased to
be taking on the role of BSA Chair during this exciting yet challenging
time. As building societies do the vast majority of their business in the
UK, they’re insulated from many of the consequences of Brexit, but not
from economic uncertainty or adverse consumer confidence. Clarity and
resolution are much needed for businesses and consumers alike.”
Barriers To Small House
Builders Need To Be
Removed To Deliver Housing
Targets
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the Federation of Master Builders, (FMB),
said: “SME house builders are continuing to face numerous barriers
to increasing their capacity to build the homes that are needed. The
recommendations in the Public Accounts Committee’s report highlight that
the planning system is delaying progress. It is completely unacceptable
that sites are being stalled because planning departments are not dealing
with applications quickly enough. Our members aren’t seeing any
improvements in service since fees were increased in January last year – a
policy the FMB supported.”
5
RIBA Council endorsed a series of key
decisions including the development of a
five year, detailed, measurable action plan
to embed sustainable industry standards
and practice; use the RIBA’s influence
to improve government and inter-
government policy and regulation; and
reduce the RIBA’s own carbon footprint.
Victoria Prentis MP has
said that increasing our
custom building housing
stock is a practical way
to solve the country’s
housing woes
Identifying that only 8% of the housing stock was
built via custom build, Prentis highlighted that
access to land, finance and the planning system
are the main barriers to self-build and that
Cherwell District Council, through its Graven
Hill self build site, is doing much to alleviate the
burdens.
The National Federation of Builders (NFB)
welcomes another MP recognising the barriers
facing smaller developments and is delighted
that decision-makers are beginning to understand
the financial, community and environmental
benefits of self build.
The popularity of self build has not been helped
by local authorities focussing on large sites to
meet housing demand.
They often lack a local self build policy and have
failed to capitalise on the self build and custom
register which the Government asked local
authorities to implement from 2016.
When those failures are added to a broken
planning system and the shortage of skilled
workers, self build becomes a daunting
proposition.