City architects should be introduced across England to help unlock millions of pounds in economic value and hundreds of new homes, according to a new report by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).
The report proposes a three-year pilot programme embedding design experts within existing combined authorities. Modelling based on Greater Manchester suggests a single city architect could generate £47.6m in additional value over that period, including nearly £1m in extra tax revenue.
RIBA President Chris Williamson warned that the current housebuilding drive risks prioritising quantity over quality, saying: 'Well-designed places are not a luxury but a public good. They shape health and wellbeing and generate growth.’
The proposal forms part of RIBA's broader 17-point plan for the profession, with the organisation urging the Government to act swiftly to reverse what it calls the ‘slow, avoidable decline’ of England's cities and towns.
Bob Allies, Architect in Residence – Bath and North East Somerset, Professor of Architecture at the University of Bath and Partner at Allies and Morrison said: ‘As one of the very few architects who currently occupy such a post in the UK, I'm only too aware of the huge potential of the role of the city architect, and what - through close collaboration with officers, councillors and members of the public - they can contribute to the shaping of our towns and cities. This initiative from RIBA needs to be taken seriously.’
