RIBA consults on it's vision for the next 5 years.

The RIBA are consulting on their vision and aims for the next 5 years. As chair of the RIBA South Planning Group, Snug Projects director Paul Bulkeley attended a half day workshop at Wolfson College Oxford to discuss what the institutes priorities should be. There was a sense that in this age of localism the regions should be taking a greater role in promoting design quality. Specific ideas included extending Open House London to the regions and the expansion of Design Review at a local level. We voiced the need for the RIBA to take the lead in showing greater respect for the design talent based outside London and believe the decentralisation of Design Review would help. Our experience on the Winchester and Eastleigh Design Review Panel is that design quality in the region is raised and relationships with the local planning authority are improved. In the end this can only be good for the reputation of architects amongst both clients and communities.