The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), along with architectural institutes from Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland, has announced the formation of the Belfast Group—a coordinated body designed to standardise fire and life safety design guidance across the five nations. Formed in response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report, this initiative aims to ensure that architects in all jurisdictions have equal access to the relevant national regulations, standards, and technical information required to design buildings that meet the highest fire safety and life protection standards. Additionally, the Belfast Group will develop uniform guidance for construction professionals on fire safety requirements and procurement practices.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced the publication of the 2024 amendments to its Standard Professional Services Contract 2020 (SPSC 2020) and the Domestic Professional Services Contract 2020 (DPSC 2020). These contracts are available to purchase as paper copies, with digital versions expected to be published in October 2024.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced that it has launched the RIBA Fire Safety Compliance Tracker, which is a new tool that allows its members to record and share fire safety information. The RIBA Fire Safety Compliance Tracker was designed and developed in accordance with Part B (Fire Safety) of the Building Regulations, can be used to ‘provide compliance information to the design team' or be 'kept internally within your practice to help your team track compliance and to confirm the architectural design aligns with the fire strategy’.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), on behalf of the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard, has launched the pilot version of the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard. This free-to-access technical standard will enable the built environment to prove that built assets align with the UK’s carbon and energy budgets. It is applicable to those who want to fund, procure, design, specify a net zero carbon building, and verify that their building is net zero carbon aligned. Details on the verification process will be published separately.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has published its recommendations for the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, introduced in March 2025. The Bill aims to deliver 1.5 million homes in England and expedite 150 major infrastructure planning decisions through reforms to the planning system. RIBA has proposed three key amendments: requiring design vision components in Spatial Development Strategies, increasing local planning department resources, and implementing mandatory training for planning committee members. The organisation has specifically called for a new clause in Chapter 2 of the Bill mandating design vision requirements for spatial development strategies. The Bill is currently progressing through Parliament with government priority status.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has published its findings of their survey of construction professionals on their experience of legal and contractual practice over the past year in their 2022 Contracts and Law Report.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has published a set of frequently asked questions (FAQs), clarifying the key similarities and differences between the Lead Designer and Building Regulations Principal Designer (BRPD) dutyholder roles under the Building Regulations regime.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has published the findings of the February 2024 Future Trends Survey. The results report on business and employment trends for architects, and predict a fall in workloads over the next 3 months. Staffing levels are expected to remain steady for the first time in 6 months. This month’s survey included a one-off question about the potential project delaying effects of the statutory consultation process with the Building Safety Regulator during planning applications for higher-risk buildings. Of those working on higher-risk buildings, 62% reported delay or abandonment of these projects caused by the consultation process.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has published the findings of its latest future trends survey, which reports on business and employment trends affecting the architect's profession. The results from June 2024 show that the RIBA Future Trends Workload Index fell slightly by two points to +4, indicating that architects anticipate higher workloads. The RIBA Future Trends Permanent Staffing Index increased by six points to +6, indicating that staffing levels are expected to increase. This suggests that practices are preparing for long-term growth.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has published the findings of its latest future trends survey, which reports on business and employment trends affecting the architect's profession. The September 2024 findings indicate that architects continue to expect higher workloads and staffing levels over the next three months, reflecting an improved outlook compared to August 2024.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has published the findings from its monthly Future Trends survey. The RIBA has noted that the findings suggest there will be continued reductions in workloads and staffing levels, with particular emphasis on the impact of planning system delays. The Head of Economic Research and Analysis at RIBA, Adrian Malleson, has asserted that this is the seventh month in a row that the industry has had a pessimistic view on expected workloads, noting that this is ‘the longest period of pessimism since the survey began’.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has published a new Professional Indemnity Insurance guide which provides, exclusively to RIBA members, detailed guidance on insurance terminology, its values and principles, how it works in practice, buying quality insurance and emphasises the importance of risk awareness. The insurance offers financial protection, guidance on legal compliance, builds client confidence and provides protection against third party claims resulting from negligent professional services. The RIBA chair of board, Jack Pringle, has reflected positively that the introduction of the guide is a ‘culmination of years of work by the industry’s top experts and provides practical support in clear, no-nonsense language’.