East Midlands Development Agency and the Regional Economic Strategy - East Midlands Regional Committee Contents


Memorandum from the Royal Institute of British Architects East Midlands (EM 05)

INTRODUCTION

  The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is one of the most influential architectural institutions in the world, and has been promoting architecture and architects since being awarded its Royal Charter in 1837. The 40,000-strong professional institute is committed to serving the public interest through good design. It also represents 85% of registered architects in the UK through its regional structure as well as a significant number of international members. Our mission statement is simple—to advance architecture by demonstrating benefit to society and promoting excellence in the profession.

  The RIBA East Midlands team is based in offices in Lincoln and operates across the region to promote, encourage and raise awareness of good design in architecture as well as supporting high standards of architectural practice. RIBA East Midlands has 894 chartered members plus a further 675 student members. The executive team work with a Council made up of regional chartered members.

RIBA EAST MIDLANDS WORK AS STAKEHOLDER WITH EMDA

  RIBA East Midlands interact with emda through several different forums and welcomes partnership opportunities. A selection of RIBA members are active on committees and boards of regional organisations working in the fields of built environment planning and design and the construction industry.

  The RIBA value working with emda in the support of architecture and architects for the economic benefit of the region and would welcome closer working with relevant departments where engagement is not currently established.

  SMEs The majority of architectural practices in the region are SME's. The emda interest in supporting the construction and built environment professionals during the current recessionary times is welcomed. This is evidenced in events by EMCBE and, in particular, the interest in dissemination and development of the Career Chain project. Details of other specific support or training is unclear and support for recent graduates, both seeking employment and work experience, is one notable exception.

  Outlined below are the key areas of engagement between RIBA East Midlands and emda:

SUSTAINABILITY

  emda are supporting the development of RIBA East Midlands Low Carbon Awards through a research grant to identify recommendations for these new regional Awards for architecture.

  This is extremely useful for the region and the advance of architecture in the region because these new Awards will applaud, demonstrate, educate and stimulate initiative and positive action in the design and delivery of new buildings of design excellence in response to the affects of global warming and climate change. The existing Environmental Initiative Award (see below, also supported by emda) has gone some way to raising awareness of the importance of incorporating a commitment to sustainability from the concept/briefing stages of any development project.

  In view of the urgency of addressing climate change the timely emda support for the proposed new RIBA EM Low Carbon Awards , enables the RIBA to establish a considered framework within which to identify and applaud new low carbon buildings (and developments designed ) for low energy consumption, both embodied and whole life time.

DESIGN EXCELLENCE

  The RIBA East Midlands Awards celebrate annually the best new contemporary architecture within East Midlands.

  emda have supported the RIBA EM Awards for four years through the Environental Initiative Award. Within the context of excellence in design, this Award recognises architectural design initiative in the areas of sustainability and low carbon. emda's support is helping to encourage and embed low carbon design considerations within all new development and raise awareness with those who procure new buildings.

BLUEPRINT DEVELOPMENT COMPANY

  emda supports Blueprint a regeneration development company that aspires to delivering high architectural quality in its building projects, most of which enjoy funding through emda. This commitment to architecture of quality is to be applauded. This is evidenced in that one recently completed building, Highfields Automotive Engineering Workshops, has been shortlisted for a 2009 RIBA Award for architecture (our national platform).

REGIONAL DESIGN REVIEW PANEL OPERATED BY OPUN

  The RIBA strongly supports design review as a way of ensuring high quality design through peer review through a design review panel. This important work raising standards of design in the built environment is supported by emda. A high proportion of the panel members are RIBA chartered architects. The work of the design review panel is contributing to improved standards of development within the region, which, when these projects are delivered, will bring added economic and social benefit. The panel frequently reviews key development schemes making recommendations in a supportive manner and is seen by RIBA to be effective, valuable and well managed.

CIC—CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY COUNCIL EAST MIDLANDS

  Through the EMCBE the RDA supports the Construction Industry Council in East Midlands. This is a valuable and active forum which bring together the Professional Institutes for the built environment and other key regional bodies ( total 15 ) enabling them to speak with one voice. The RIBA are active with the CIC and the associated Employers Panel. emda regularly participate with topical presentations to the CIC Executive.

URBAN PRACTITIONER GROUP

  The RIBA are part of the UPG, managed by REM (Regeneration East Midlands) who are funded by emda. The recommendations outlined in Capturing the Urban Offer in the East Midlands are welcomed.

  The changes to regional policy proposed in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill and the potential effect on the work of emda:

  The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill places a new duty on RDAs when developing the regional strategy must exercise this with the objective of contributing to the achievement of sustainable development and in doing so have regard to the desirability of achieving good design.

  The RIBA is very supportive of this change. We cannot achieve sustainable development without good design. We believe this will enable the East Midlands RDA to demand only the best design and challenge bad design.

  Too much of new development in the UK falls short in terms of design quality and sustainability. Design should be properly entrenched into the planning process in order to improve the quality of the built environment.





 
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Prepared 29 July 2009