Campaign mounts to keep RICS part of CIC

The move, which created ructions across the industry, prompted high-profile figures to write to RICS officers, pressurising them to stay.

One senior industry figure said: “The RICS management has got to realise the members want to be part of a bigger umbrella body. The trick is not to assume that because you’re part of the CIC, you can’t say anything on your own. Other institutions seem to manage it.”

This week the surveyors’ institution confirmed to Building it had decided to resign from the CIC, saying the government had “failed to address adequately issues within the construction industry when dealing with one overarching body”. The RICS will also leave Northern Ireland’s Construction Industry Group, property group PISCES and The European Group of Valuers.

The RICS said the move gave it scope for “flexible, project-based collaboration” with the CIC.

The RICS has got to realise the members want to be part of a bigger umbrella body

Senior member of the RICS

The CIC has not received a formal resignation from the RICS, but is drawing up plans for its next step if efforts to persuade the body to change its mind fail.

Graham Watts, its chief executive, said: “Our priority is for the RICS to remain a member, but if it doesn’t we have got to think about how we will represent chartered surveyors. We would probably form two panels – one for construction QSs from the big practices and one for building surveyors.”

Meanwhile, other organisations within the CIC pledged their support for the body, including the RIBA. Richard Brindley, executive director of professional services, said: “The RIBA values the CIC as a pan-professional forum and voice for the industry.”