FROM THE PRESIDENT
From the president Andrew Catto ponders on the valuable contents of this issue of ACANews
We all know that not changing the brief is the secret to get- not green enough. Real planning reform, and enough staff to ting anything done even close to time and budget. 2022 run it, can’t come soon enough, but this isn’t it. however is not going according to plan. Last year the Covid As well as Andy’s regular insight on planning reform it’s recovery got the blame for inflation and materials shortages. always a pleasure to read Max Winthrops’ customarily amusing Now thanks (not only) to the invasion of Ukraine we have yet practical look at HR matters something all practices need to shortages, inflation and a slump in new commissions all at keep in mind. This time with cakes and lemonade as well once whilst householders and developers alike ponder if they bondage equipment and ferries. can afford to build at all. Take a look on page 12. His comment that part of the probSome change however brings opportunity. Control of my lem is the way we legislate almost brings us full circle to the local council changed last month for the first time in 44 years. Building Safety Act and piecemeal planning reforms I have The previous Housing chair wanted to pull everything down as touched on above. beyond repair. The new one wants to insulate it all. But nobody I was fortunate to be in the room for the CULS Planning and told the planning department who are still busy rejecting exter- Levelling Up-Date on 8th March. nal insulation and heat pumps. One of the benefits of ACA membership is when it provides Building Safety Act is now here to change all our lives and access to events like this with an excellent line up of influential hopefully not just with more and informed speakers. The paperwork and ever spiralling PII report, starting on page 20, One of the benefits of ACA premiums. Richard Harrison has gives a flavour of the huge membership is when it provide been representing the ACA from range of topics covered, but access to events like this with an better still to hear and see the through the Bill’s gestation and rightly gets the front page of excellent line up of influential and speakers live on the day along this ACA News to explain the with fellow professionals and informed speakers changes. There’s more from many potential clients. David Mosey on page 39 about Check the regular email getting procurement right in the new context. bulletins from the ACA for more events and CPD opportunities The DLUHC have been busy. The Levelling Up and and ensure that your colleagues get these too by signing up on Regneration Bill promises to change how we work, but maybe the ACA website – at no cost. not so much as we once thought. The big bold ideas from last Thanks to British Home Design and Move Architecture for year’s White Paper on planning reform have been quietly contributing two different and interesting projects to the dropped but a lot of it still survives bundled up here, including gallery (page.16), to Karashetskyy Architects’ for news of their an increase in planning fees and faster timetables (but more restaurant in Lviv and commiseration to Anthony Carlile for his consultation too?) for revising local plans. The ACA’s regular gem of a guest cabin that ‘got away’. I challenge our long term planning expert (and architect and Past President) Andy Rogers members to prove that we too have some great projects to has more detail on page 6. share. In the last issue I wondered if the ever expanding range of Lastly my thanks to fellow council member John Assael for development allowable by Prior Notification was really ‘permit- sponsoring this edition of ACA News. With his RIBA experience, ted’ if the local council can refuse it on the grounds of appear- John’s input to Council is invaluable. We need more like him – ance? In London it seems to be that the Local Council, who you? Do consider joining us on line for one meeting soon (no know your scheme’s too big but really want the CIL money, will strings) for some lively discussion knock a bit off. The Mayor then calls it in, adds more floors to And please don’t forget to respond to the ARB’s consultation increase the affordable (which isn’t) housing ratio, after which on PII – link on p.48. This goes to the core of making a success the DLUHC in turn call it in and refuse for poor design and / or of practice and affects architects more than most. n
ACANews JUNE 2022
9
