Architects Registration Council of the United Kingdom ARCUK
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) was established in 1834. Architects subsequently campaigned for the protection of the title ‘architect’ and the creation of an architects' registration body to regulate the profession and protect the title. In 1931, the Architects (Registration) Act created the Architects Registration Council of the United Kingdom (ARCUK).
In 1993, the Warne Report, prepared by senior civil servant John Warne, recommended that both ARCUK and protection of the title should be abolished, or failing this, that ARCUK’s functions should be transferred to the RIBA. However, under pressure from architects themselves, a compromise position was reached. In 1996, Part III of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act reconstituted ARCUK as the Architects Registration Board (ARB) and in 1997, the previous 1931 and 1938 acts were consolidated in the Architects Act of 1997 and the slimmed down regulatory body, the Architects Registration Board (ARB) created. See Architects Registration Board for more information.
However, this remains a confusing situation that the RIBA finds unsatisfactory. Many members of the public assume that the profession is regulated by the RIBA, when in fact, membership of the RIBA is entirely voluntary. The RIBA does validate programmes at UK schools of architecture, but the validation criteria are jointly held by the RIBA and the ARB, and Section 4 of the Architects Act gives the ARB the statutory responsibility to prescribe the qualifications that are needed to become an architect. The RIBA maintains its own Code of conduct for its members, as does the ARB.
On Monday 31 March 2014, Stephen Williams, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government announced a Periodic Review of the Architects Registration Board (ref DCLG Periodic Review of the Architects Registration Board). The Review will consider whether there is a continuing need for the ARB or for its function.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Architects Registration Board.
- Architect.
- Architect's fees.
- Architectural education.
- Architectural styles.
- Professional indemnity insurance.
- RIBA.
- The history of the architectural profession.
[edit] External references
- A Report for the RIBA On the Registration and Regulation of Architects. Sir Christopher Ball, December, 2009.
- DCLG Periodic Review of the Architects Registration Board.
- RIBA Review of Architects Registration Board. 20 March 2014.
Featured articles and news
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.
The changed R&D tax landscape for Architects
Specialist gives a recap on tax changes for Research and Development, via the ACA newsletter.
Structured product data as a competitive advantage
NBS explain why accessible product data that works across digital systems is key.
Welsh retrofit workforce assessment
Welsh Government report confirms Wales faces major electrical skills shortage, warns ECA.
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.