How do political decisions impact Architecture?

Brexit

The immediate impact of Brexit has been limited according to UK-based architects, but they fear that winning work and recruiting staff in the European Union will now become harder.

The "immediate impact appears to be quite minor," said one of the 14 studios Dezeen approached for comment on how the UK's departure from the EU has affected them now the transition period has ended.

However, many firms believe that the biggest long-term impact will be on recruitment, with several studios reporting a loss of EU staff.

Below, 14 architecture studios discuss how Brexit has affected them and how they are managing the changes.

"We plan to open a new studio in the EU" - Andrew Waugh, director, Waugh Thistleton Architects

What impact have you seen so far?

Firstly, leaving the EU is incredibly frustrating. It's pointless, narrow-minded, backward jingoistic populism at its cynical worst. It's important to get that off my chest!

Our team used to be about half UK and half from mainland Europe but over the last few years since the vote, this has dwindled to a stalwart few Europeans.

We've managed to keep working with a few of the people that returned home [to Europe] and now have fledgling offices in Madrid and Venice, but we miss the diversity and dynamism that having a more international home office gave us.

How do you expect Brexit will impact your studio moving forward?

We're not sure. About half our work is in the EU and the ambition for sustainable construction is so much higher across the channel. We were certainly appointed with the knowledge that Brexit was going to happen so it hasn't affected our current work, but I'm concerned that as Europe refocuses and inevitably drifts away from the UK it will make those projects harder to come by.

Competing for OJEU (Official Journal of the European Union) projects will still be possible thankfully, although persuading clients that working with a UK practice will be as seamless as working with an EU practice will be a struggle.

Are you seeing issues with staff and or suppliers?

Not yet but I'm nervous that some of the high-quality, low-carbon products that we use that are manufactured in Europe may become increasingly unaffordable.

We will have to see what happens to our currency and with import hassles! But when you're designing a building that will be built in a year or so and you want cost certainty then that makes it complex on our UK projects, again stifling innovation.

The only positive I can think of is that with the UK construction workforce vastly reduced by people returning to the EU perhaps this will give the industry the kick toward innovation that is so desperately needed!

What steps are you taking to mitigate the impact?

This year we plan to open a new studio in the EU but we're just not sure where yet: Dublin, Amsterdam, Paris, Madrid, Milan, Berlin…Thank goodness I'm an Irish citizen!

"Our ability to recruit from a pool of global talent will be greatly restricted" - Sarah Wigglesworth, founder, Sarah Wigglesworth Architects.

Now it has happened, what impact has Brexit had on your studio?

As far as I'm aware it hasn't had any impact. We don't work outside the UK.

How do you expect Brexit will impact your studio moving forward?

Our ability to recruit from a pool of global talent will be greatly restricted if they want to work in the UK. Qualifications are not mutually recognised anymore, and work permits will be needed if we hire staff from abroad. The additional paperwork will cost us more.

Are you seeing issues with staff and or suppliers?

Not yet. One member of staff is considering moving abroad as they dislike the current mood in the UK. They can probably operate as normal from a long distance, as someone is already doing. We'll see how that works out in the long term.

We don't have anything on site at present, but everyone is predicting shortages of materials and rising prices. My guess is that this will affect a fair number of products used in building because we don't manufacture much anymore.

What steps are you taking to mitigate the impact?

We're watching what is happening and seeing how it unfolds. We are reaching out to our contacts in Europe to try and strengthen our ties despite the ‘official' story. We exhibited in Copenhagen in 2019 and I'm visiting professor at Polimi Milan in June.

"EU colleagues feel affronted by the suggestion that they have to justify their presence in the UK" - Ben Derbyshire, chair, HTA Design

Now it has happened, what impact has Brexit had your studio?

The immediate impact of Brexit on HTA Design's four studios in London, Edinburgh, Manchester and Bristol, is dwarfed and completely obscured by the simultaneous effect of the pandemic and the most recent lockdown.

All of our studios are closed, and our 230 staff are working from home, many struggling with the return to home-schooling. The implication for these families is grievous and we know from the previous lockdowns that it is so much harder to design collaboratively and deliver efficiently.

How do you expect Brexit will impact your studio moving forward?

Many of our colleagues are from the European Union. They feel affronted by the suggestion that they have to justify their presence in the UK and some have already left to return to their home countries.

We hugely value the competence and diligence of team members trained in the European system and entirely refute the suggestion that the RIBA Part 3 delivers inherently greater competence than our European counterparts. Some of our staff are now working from EU countries – an interesting development we might never have contemplated had not the pandemic taught us that it is possible, though inevitably less productive, for people to work from home – wherever that may be!

Are you seeing issues with staff and or suppliers?

It's a sad truth that many of the quality products that go into building homes are not made in the UK – most are made in Europe; heating systems from Belgium, windows from Germany and Scandinavia and so on. It may be that one of the arguments for Brexit is to stimulate domestic production but in the meantime, there are bound to be impacts on the supply chain caused by increased friction at the border.

We are already seeing news stories about EU companies refusing to supply the UK. When that happens, the sensitive business plans that support development will be disrupted, costs and programs will increase, and projects will be delayed and disrupted.

Since 1 January 2021, the UK has had a completely different relationship with the EU. New trade agreements and a new immigration system will change the way the UK architecture sector works.

Since the referendum in 2016, we have produced several research reports to show the value of the UK’s architecture sector and provided members and practices with guidance and resources to help navigate the changes. You can see some of this information below.

The Brexit transition period has now come to an end, and the UK is now no longer a member of the EU. Although a trade deal has been agreed, we will continue to lobby for the best outcome for architects who wish to work or study in the EU.

Through surveys, research and roundtables, thousands of architects have let us know their priorities for the UK’s post Brexit trade deal. The RIBA used this information to draw together core policy priorities, and met with Cabinet Ministers, MPs, civil servants, industry and more to advocate for these changes.

With the UK now entering its new trading relationship with the EU, read an update on how the policy priorities of architects have been matched.

New global deals, with standards and professionalism at their heart

The EU is an important market for architects and architecture. RIBA members were clear that a new deal should make access easy, while protecting and promoting the best possible standards.

The UK government agreed that an ongoing recognition of professional qualifications agreement with the EU and committed to it as a priority through its Brexit White Papers. However, they were unable to come to an agreement with the EU over this issue, affecting each regulated profession covered by the Professional Qualifications Directive.

The Architects Registration Board (ARB) has confirmed that, for the time being, EU and EEA qualified architects will be able to continue to register in the UK on the same basis as before. The UK-EU agreement also states that there is scope for a new agreement to take place.

The UK government has stated that the agreement will keep environmental standards and workers’ rights on a par. However, it will now be a matter of domestic regulation to determine what these standards will be, so it is likely that there will be divergences over time.

Support growth in the export of architecture

The UK government has increasingly recognised the valuable role that UK architecture plays internationally. However, RIBA members reflected that the government support available was not fit for the export of services.

The UK government has been working on new trade deals in other territories such as the USA, Australia and New Zealand. We continue to advocate that any new trade agreement must open the potential for new recognition of professional qualification agreements. The Building Safety Bill provides powers to the ARB to begin this process, which is a welcome move forward.

The RIBA is a core member of the Creative Industries Trade and Investment Board. The board was established in 2018, bringing together government and industry to provide strategic insight and support for architecture at the top levels of decision-making.

Access to the best talent and skills, through a reformed immigration system that works for architects.

The UK government reformed the immigration system. Architects identified the previous system as bureaucratic and costly, with a system of salary thresholds that made it difficult for small practices and those outside of London to recruit.

In 2019, the RIBA published Powered by people: building a post-Brexit immigration system for the UK, the result of new research on the role of international architects working in the UK, and hosted meetings between policy makers and architects to help inform the new system. As a result:

· There has been a reduction in the time, cost and salary thresholds associated with recruiting international architects

· New Exceptional Talent and Exceptional Promise immigration routes have established for architects

· Architectural Assistant roles are now included in the new immigration system, which means that international architects can apply

· Architects are now included on the Shortage Occupation List

· The definition of ‘new entrant’ has been expanded to cover those working towards a professional qualification, meaning that pathway to studying and qualifying in the UK is easier for students and young professionals

· The two-year post study work visa has been reintroduced, helping international students at UK universities undertake their placements here.

Supporting the construction sector to deliver for UK communities

RIBA members felt that international ambitions should be met with domestic support, putting design at the heart of new communities. Our asks of government included supporting devolution deals and helping mitigate some of the knocks in economic confidence that were being associated with the course of the Brexit negotiations. Since 2020, coronavirus has clearly impacted significantly on the UK construction sector, and therefore has been a focus of our lobbying.

This has included:

· Advocating for the UK government to update and make available its infrastructure plans to ensure greater confidence in the construction market

· Driving the agenda on housing and planning, through our responses to critical issues such as the Planning for the Futureconsultation

· Successfully advocating for the UK government to introduce greater flexibilities into the planning process to allow projects to move ahead during coronavirus, such as the greater use of digital tools

· Publishing new policy reports on issues such as role of social housing, decarbonising the housing stock, and the value of Post Occupancy Evaluation