New Architects Code of Conduct and Practice comes into effect in September 2025

The new Architects Code published by the ARB is available for free download here

1 Background to the code
2 The Six Standards
3 Comment
4 Related articles on Designing Buildings
5 External links

[edit] Background to the code

The Architects Registration Board (ARB) announced on 19 June the publication of a new version of the Architects Code of Conduct and Practice, which sets out the professional standards expected of all registered architects in the UK. The updated Code comes into effect on 1 September 2025, replacing the current version that has been in place since 2017.

The ARB proposals for a new Architects Code were initially published in September 2024 followed by a three month consultation closing on 12 December, 2024. A consultation on draft guidance for the Architects Code of Conduct covering Dealing with Complaints, Professional Indemnity Insurance, and Terms of Engagement (tranche one) ran between 26 February and 9 April 2025.

A second consultation for the guidance addressing the specific topics of Managing Conflicts of Interest, Managing Finances and Raising Concerns and Whistleblowing (tranche two) opened on 19 Jun 2025 and closes 31 July 2025. The guidance as a whole aims to support architects in interpreting and applying the new Code.

As the statutory regulator for architects, ARB has a legal requirement to set a code of conduct and practice. Under the Architects Act 1997, it is legally required to publish a code of conduct and practice, and to keep that code under review. The Code has been drafted to respond directly to the expectations of the public and clients as identified through independent research,and insights shared with ARB by architects and other built environment professionals.

[edit] The Six Standards

The previous code with 12 standards published in 2017 is replaced by the new code (as of September 2025) and is based on six standards that define professionalism for modern UK architects:

Honesty and integrity

Architects must be honest and act with integrity and will meet the Standard when they:
- Use impartial judgment based on the evidence available
- Promote their services responsibly and accurately
- Declare and manage any conflicts of interest appropriately
- Are transparent about any inducements offered or received
- Report to ARB any instance where they or another architect may have fallen significantly short of the Standards within this Code
- Co-operate with any formal inquiries or ARB investigations

Public interest

Architects must act in the public interest and in a way that supports the environment and prevents harm to others and will meet the Standard when they:
- Use their best endeavours to enhance the environment
- Protect the health and safety of those who construct, maintain and use buildings and places
- Challenge others where their actions may put people or the environment at risk, and report the matter to an appropriate authority when those risks are not adequately managed
- Decline any work which requires them to act contrary to these Standards
- Do not knowingly break the law or assist others in unlawful actions

Competence

Architects must be competent to carry out the work they do and will meet the Standard when they:
- Acknowledge and work within the limits of their competence
- Ensure they are up to date with current standards and good practice
- Adopt a reflective approach to their work by learning from feedback and addressing individual learning needs
- Assure themselves of the competence of anyone they engage to carry out work on their behalf
- Provide appropriate supervision and sufficient resources to people they engage to carry out work on their behalf
- Encourage the professional development of those for whom they are responsible
- Maintain their knowledge and understanding of guidance issued by ARB in support of these Standards

Professional practice

Architects must carry out their work effectively, exercising skill and diligence and will meet the Standard when they:
- Provide clear, understandable, written terms of engagement to their clients before commencing work
- Plan, monitor and manage their work in a timely manner
- Have sufficient resources and capacity to provide their services effectively
- Establish processes to ensure that projects are regularly monitored and reviewed
- Maintain accurate records of their work and decisions
- Protect the confidentiality and security of information for which they are responsible
- Ensure their liabilities are covered by adequate and appropriate professional indemnity insurance
- Deal with disputes or complaints promptly and courteously
- Manage their professional finances appropriately

Communication and collaboration

Architects must communicate effectively and collaborate with others and will meet the Standard when they:
- Communicate in a way that is appropriate to their audience
- Understand and confirm their clients’ initial requirements before committing to work
- Explain their role to their clients, and manage the expectations of others as to what can be achieved
- Communicate to their clients, in a timely manner, any issues that may impact the cost, time or quality of a project
- Collaborate proactively with other professionals

Respect

Architects must treat others with respect and will meet the Standard when they:
- Are polite and considerate
- Have a committed approach to equality, diversity and inclusion in their approach to designing environments and in their relationships with colleagues, employees, clients and communities
- Contribute to a positive and inclusive working environment where unfair discrimination is not tolerated

Each Standard is underlined with examples of how architects can demonstrate their commitment to upholding it. ARB published its analysis of the consultation earlier in 2025. Each of the proposed Standards received strong support from consultation respondents, with the highest levels of agreement on ‘Honesty and integrity’ (agreed by 89% of respondents).

[edit] Comment

Alan Kershaw, ARB Chair said:

“The new Code represents a significant step forward in defining what it means to be an architect today. It reflects the values that the public rightly expects of the profession, and provides a practical framework that will help architects make decisions with confidence and integrity. We strongly encourage all architects to view the new Code on the ARB website and to familiarise themselves with the new Standards before the Code comes into effect on 1 September.”