Architects warn the government not to cut them out of public sector construction

Architects have warned the government not to cut them out of public sector construction after a Budget announcement that up to 20% would be shaved off costs through standardisation.

This week the Cabinet Office clarified it wants to reduce construction costs by 10-20% over four years, partly with “standardisation rather than bespoke designs”.

Angela Brady, RIBA president elect, said that the government needed to talk to architects to help it save money.

“We can tell them about lots of new ways of working that can save money and time.

“However, to deliberately cut out the possibility of good design and variety can be a short sighted, costly and dangerous exercise for the communities at the receiving end of these decisions,” she said.

Anna Scott-Marshall, head of public affairs at the RIBA, said: “We think architects within a brief can fit that brief, without having some level of standardisation imposed on them.”

  • The Design Council is starting a “root and branch” review of services provided by former design quango Cabe as the merger of the two bodies is completed today. The review will be run by Peter Bishop, Design for London chief executive, and Paul Finch, former Cabe chairman.

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