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Government to strip councils of final say on major housing schemes and give automatic ‘yes’ to developments near transport hubs
Scott Brownrigg’s £44m Oxfordshire life sciences campus expansion approved
Green light for Bell Phillips’ Brent Cross Town energy centre
Environmental Audit Committee slams ‘lazy narrative’ that nature protection blocks delivery of new homes
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Opinion
Latest Opinion
The built environment: Britain’s hidden super industry
Martyn Evans argues that one of Britain’s largest and most vital industries remains hidden in plain sight. He urges the government and business to recognise the built environment as a unified sector central to national prosperity
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Expectant on site: reflections on pregnancy and architectural practice
Architect Jennifer Pirie explores how being pregnant and on site revealed opportunities for a more inclusive architectural culture
Two decades on and women in architecture still face many of the same barriers
In response to the Fawcett Socety’s independent report for the RIBA, Sumita Singha asks why so many women in architecture still struggle to be valued and recognised throughout their careers
Preserving Britain’s past and building its future – why our heritage depends on vocational skills
Adrian Attwood exposes the crisis in heritage-conservation craft skills, and makes a plea for more young people to be encouraged into the field
What if part of the answer to our building problem is actually to build less?
‘No-build’ and ‘low-build’ solutions are a relatively cheap and simple way to reduce the size of the housing waiting list and shrink the size of the infrastructure pipeline, writes Beth West
My quest for accessible cities starts here
Andrew Teacher is launching a drive to rethink how accessibility is built into cities
Traditional architecture isn’t elitist – architectural education might be
Architecture student Elliot Robbie argues that by dismissing traditional design, architectural education risks alienating the very public it claims to serve – excluding large sections of society from shaping and identifying with the built environment
How waterfronts became the lifeblood of urban regeneration
Drawing on his own experience from Birmingham to Liverpool, David Rudlin explores how attitudes to water and place have shaped modern urban regeneration
The case for more specialist pathways in architecture is growing stronger
As construction grows ever more complex and other professions embrace specialisation, architecture risks being left further behind. Ben Flatman asks whether the time has come for change
Losing our craft: the tragedy of replace-not-repair architecture
Tanvir Hasan argues that the growing web of regulation and risk aversion is accelerating the loss of historic craftsmanship – and with it, our ability to repair and care for buildings sustainably
Losing our craft: the tragedy of replace-not-repair architecture
Tanvir Hasan argues that the growing web of regulation and risk aversion is accelerating the loss of historic craftsmanship – and with it, our ability to repair and care for buildings sustainably
The elephant in the lecture theatre: Why universities must rethink space, community and culture
The way teachers teach and students learn has changed and empty buildings and outdated facilities are draining resources. A culture shift is required if HE institutions are to avoid a slow decline into irrelevance, says Philip Watson
Britain’s lost builders: making housing viable again for SMEs
Miranda MacLaren argues that financial reform, fairer procurement and design for local delivery are essential to revive small builders and rebuild housebuilding capacity
Strengthening collaboration in bathroom design through digital tools
The shift towards using advanced digital tools in bathroom design, planning and installation is not only improving accuracy but also strengthening collaboration across the supply chain. Neelam Bala reflects on the benefits of a more connected, transparent way of working
It’s time to give Scottish architecture a public platform again
With no permanent venue for architectural discussion since the closure of The Lighthouse, Rab Bennetts calls for a renewed public platform to reconnect design, policy and civic engagement in Scotland
Good housing starts with good urban design
Ana McMillin argues that the success or failure of new neighbourhoods will be decided by the quality of streets, public spaces and community life
The Coach: On letting go…
Taking inspiration from the changing seasons, Louise Rodgers explores how we can find strength and draw important lessons through letting go
Beyond the quick fix: why permitted development needs strategic guidance
Diego Calderon and Gianmaria Givanni make the case for how clear, community-led design guidance could enable permitted development to become a tool for coherent neighbourhood growth
Why botched retrofit work risks undermining public trust in the industry
The shock findings of last week’s NAO report into botched external wall insulation installations has damaged public confidence in the benefits of retrofit. Decisive action is needed to restore faith and prevent future waste, says Thomas Lane
New towns. Old wisdom?
Nicholas Boys Smith celebrates the strengths and examines the flaws of the new towns task force’s recommendations and site list
Fragmented by design: what happened to joined-up construction?
As the industry splinters into ever smaller specialisms, Eleanor Jolliffe asks how we can foster more effective collaboration and greater honesty about learning from mistakes
This Stirling Prize winner is a model for how we can all live better
Witherford Watson Mann’s Appleby Blue scheme shows how thoughtful design can help us age well, strengthen communities and rethink how generations live together, says Ben Flatman
The power of mentoring for women in architecture
As the Women in Architecture Mentoring Programme opens for its next cohort, Eleni Stathi shares how women supporting women is shaping a more inclusive future for the profession
Now is not the time to panic about low planning approvals
As poor statistics continue to roll in Steve Reed and Matthew Pennycook must hold their nerve, stick to their plan and be patient, argues Paul Smith
Architecture in crisis: a profession undermined by its own structures
Hien Nguyen on how years of falling fees, mounting liabilities and weak institutional support have left architects struggling to sustain viable practices
Why Industry Foundation Classes is the future of construction collaboration
Andrew Norrie makes the case for open data standards, and argues Industry Foundation Classes has a vital role to play in data sharing, workflow streamlining and the shift to automated, model-driven 4D planning
The role of cladding in navigating fire safety in modern building design
Simon Buckmaster explores how Gateway 2 bottlenecks and evolving Building Safety Act requirements are reshaping external wall specification
Building communities: why the Neave Brown Award matters
Mellis Haward considers what it means to design homes that foster connection and community life
Regeneration of overlooked communities alongside new towns will be vital if UK is to hit homebuilding target
Only by adopting an ambitious, long-term mindset and working in partnership will we manage to build those 1.5 million homes, writes Sir Michael Lyons, chair of the New Towns Taskforce
Insights from tomorrow’s architects: towards zero-waste design
In the final article of this current series by recent Bartlett Part 3 candidates exploring the future of architecture, Robert Serman considers how circular design and material reuse could help create a zero-waste built environment
Inside the party conferences: why architects need to be in the room where housing policy is made
Félicie Krikler examines why architects and built environment professionals must make their voices heard in policymaking circles
Sir Nicholas Grimshaw: beyond the buildings and accolades
Mark Middleton pays tribute to Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, remembering a leader and mentor whose clarity, curiosity and belief in others defined his approach to architecture and practice
There is no need to panic about new fire door regulations
Jim White explains what the change means for specifiers, why BS-certified doors remain valid, and how proactive collaboration with suppliers will smooth the transition
From AI to retrofit: how RIBA’s Future Business of Architecture programme is helping practices navigate change
As economic uncertainty tests the industry, Helen Castle, director of publishing and content at the RIBA, explains why practices mustn’t let up on their longer-term business thinking
