The Building Safety Act establishes a new role of Principal Designer to take responsibility for the holistic design of all new buildings, starting on the 1st of October, 2023.
 
In effect, the role is that of lead consultant, and arguably, if the design follows the RIBA plan of work, we can be confident that buildings will be compliant and safe.
 
Within the Act, architects are specifically referred to with a tightening of the Architect Registration Board remit, requiring architects to complete annual CPD to be included on the publically accessible register of competent architects.
 
Since the advent of design and build, roles have become blurred, which has played a part in disasters such as Grenfell.
 
The new legislation clarifies roles and places overall design responsibility on the Principal Designer.
 
Architecture is the most appropriate profession for this role, not least as it is the only one mentioned in the Act. The legislation allows architects to promote the value they bring to a project.
 
Unfortunately, the RIBA professional body has decided this is an opportunity to create another register with additional cost for their members when many are struggling financially.
 
Many clients believe their architects must be on the register to demonstrate their competence, even though it is not a statutory requirement. With this being an individual register, practices with multiple projects will have to pay for several registrations.
 
Architects studied for seven years and gained many years of experience. 
 
Architects can demonstrate their competence by simply creating a document that outlines qualifications, experience and ongoing learning. Demonstrating an understanding of the legislation via a formal CPD is also essential.
 
This petition intends to demonstrate to the RIBA that its members and others across the industry do not believe there is a need for another confusing register and want it cancelled. 

Instead, the RIBA should communicate the importance of coordinated design and the value architects bring to our clients while encouraging members and the wider industry to attend a series of CPDs that explain the Principal Designer role.