Episode 183 - ARB Code of Conduct Released

This week we will be talking about the new ARB Code of Conduct officially taking effect. This episode content meets PC1 - Professionalism of the Part 3 Criteria.

Resources from today's episode:

Websites:

• https://arb.org.uk/architect-information/architects-code-standards-of-conduct-and-practice/

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Transcript

Episode 183:

Hello and Welcome to the Part3 with me podcast. 

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I am your host Maria Skoutari and this week we will be talking about the official release of the ARB’s New Code of Conduct. Todays’ episode meets PC1 of the Part 3 Criteria.

I spoke about the initial assessments, consultations and guidance documents ARB has been undertaking relating to the new Code of Conduct in Episodes 133 and 158. Where I covered the initial consultation ARB was undertaking to assess members views of a new Code and the results of that consultation which concluded in December 2024.  

Now the new Code of Conduct is officially released and took effect as of the 1st of September this year. It applies to all UK registered architects regardless of location or field of specialisation. Architects working in countries with their own professional standards must meet both sets of requirements. 

As previously mentioned, the drive behind this change was to respond to several critical factors, including:

• The Grenfell Tower disaster and subsequent building safety crisis
• The climate emergency requiring enhanced sustainability focus
• Evolving attitudes toward equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI)
• Public expectations following independent research into what the public expects from architects
• Building Safety Act 2022 requirements for enhanced professional competence monitoring

The new Code was, therefore, developed through extensive research and consultation that demonstrated ARB's commitment to evidence-based policy development. Independent research into public and small-scale client expectations provided crucial insights into societal needs, while workshop discussions with architects at conferences and online ensured professional perspectives were thoroughly considered. One-to-one meetings with national representative institutes facilitated collaborative development, and feedback from other built environment professionals and large-scale clients broadened the consultation scope. The formal public consultation from September to December 2024 received 441 responses, demonstrating significant professional engagement with the reform process.

This process therefore concluded and confirmed that the new Code will now indeed consist of the 6 standards the consultation was proposing, which includes:

• Standard 1: Honesty and Integrity, requiring architects to be honest and act with integrity.
• Standard 2: Public Interest, requiring architects to act in the public interest and support the environment while preventing harm to others. Architects' societal role means their responsibilities extend beyond themselves and their clients, requiring prioritisation of the public interest through respect for life, law, and the environment.
• Standard 3: Competence, requiring architects to be competent to carry out their work to deal with an ever-changing built environment through continuous professional development throughout their careers.
• Standard 4: Professional Practice, requiring architects to carry out work effectively, exercising skill and diligence, employing robust business practices and responsible financial management.
• Standard 5: Communication and Collaboration, requiring architects to communicate effectively and collaborate with others. Through active listening, transparent information sharing, and respectful work with stakeholders, architects build trust, resolve challenges, and achieve shared goals.
• Standard 6: Respect, requiring architects to treat others with respect, by promoting open-mindedness and inclusive practices, architects create environments where all ideas and individuals are valued.

As mentioned in the previous episodes, namely episode 158, the new Code will be supported by additional guidance for how architects can apply the Standards in more specific contexts and in relation to particular topics. 

The ARB first consulted on Guidance Notes relating to:

• Dealing with complaints: which provide guidance on handling professional work complaints and dispute resolution.
• Professional Indemnity Insurance: which covers updated guidance addressing current market challenges of a minimum £250,000 cover on an each and every claim basis requirement with special provision for fire-safety and cladding claims on an aggregate basis, and 
• Terms of Engagement: which covers requirements for clear, written terms before commencing work.

These have now been officially published alongside the new Code. 

The ARB has now moved to the next set of guidance notes, currently seeking consultation on a further three, relating to:

• Managing Conflicts of Interest: which sets out recognition and management of conflicts that could impair professional judgment. This includes financial interests, personal relationships, and competing professional obligations that could compromise independent advice or decision-making.
• Managing Finances Appropriately: which sets out financial management expectations relating to handling client money, insolvency risk management, director responsibilities and professional financial advice requirements. The guidance recognises that architects may not be financial experts but must understand their obligations and seek appropriate advice when needed. And then the third,
• Raising Concerns and Whistleblowing: which sets out professional obligations to report serious risks, unlawful activity, or Code breaches. Including Legal protections under Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998, when and how to raise concerns, fostering a speak-up culture and provision of contact procedures for different types of concerns, whether they relate to building safety, professional misconduct, or other serious issues.

Still pending drafting and consultation are Guidances on:

• Building safety
• Sustainability
• Equality, diversity, and inclusion
• Mentoring
• Leadership

The building safety guidance will provide detailed implementation advice for safety-related obligations, drawing on lessons from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and Building Safety Act requirements. 

Sustainability guidance will help architects understand their environmental obligations and implement effective sustainability practices across different project types and scales. 

Equality, diversity, and inclusion guidance will provide practical approaches to implementing inclusive design and professional practices, while mentoring guidance will support professional development obligations. 

Leadership guidance will address the broader responsibilities that come with senior roles in architectural practice, including obligations to support junior colleagues and contribute to professional advancement.

So the key changes from the Previous Codes is that the new Code follows a more simple structure:

• Reducing from 11 standards to 6 core principles
• It takes a more outcomes-focused approach with supporting examples
• Drafter in clearer language and in a more accessible format making the Code more usable for architects at all career stages, while the supporting examples provide practical guidance without constraining professional creativity or judgment.

The new code enhances focus on:

Building safety which now features prominently throughout the Code following recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and recognition that public safety must be the paramount professional concern. The code therefore now aligns with the Building Safety Act 2022 requirements ensuring regulatory coherence and prevents conflicting obligations for practicing architects. It now requires enhanced competence monitoring throughout architects careers reflecting recognition that initial qualification provides foundation knowledge that must be continuously updated and developed.

Environmental sustainability has also been explicitly integrated across multiple standards rather than treated as a separate consideration, reflecting climate emergency urgency and architects' unique environmental responsibilities. Equality, diversity, and inclusion have been formally recognised as core professional obligations rather than voluntary good practices, demonstrating the profession's commitment to inclusive design and workplace cultures.

Additionally, the elevation of public interest as a standalone standard signals a fundamental shift in professional priorities, requiring architects to consider broader societal impacts alongside client interests. Whistleblowing and raising concerns have been formally addressed through both the Code requirements and supporting guidance, creating clear expectations about professional courage and accountability.

The key areas of focus the new Code requires all UK registered architects to adhere to now are to maintain knowledge of ARB Guidance, engage in continuous professional development and encourage others’ professional development. This comprehensive scope ensures consistent professional standards whether architects work in traditional building design, urban planning, academic roles, or emerging specialisations like digital design or environmental consulting.

Architects also now have explicit duties to create a culture of mutual accountability within the profession. The obligation to report concerns about other architects to ARB represents a significant departure from traditional professional courtesy that may have discouraged peer challenge. The requirement to challenge unsafe practices by others creates professional courage obligations that extend beyond individual practice boundaries, while the duty to decline work that would require acting contrary to standards prioritises professional integrity over commercial opportunities. 

Maintaining transparency about conflicts and inducements establishes clear ethical boundaries that protect professional independence and public trust. These enhanced accountability measures work together to create a professional culture where safety and integrity take precedence over commercial interests or personal relationships.

Additionally, the Code's business practice requirements establish minimum standards for professional service delivery that protect both clients and architects. Written terms of engagement before starting work prevent misunderstandings and provide legal protections for all parties, while adequate professional indemnity insurance requirements ensure financial protection against professional errors. Proper financial management obligations protect client interests and ensure practice sustainability, while transparent fee structures promote trust and prevent disputes. Effective complaint handling procedures demonstrate professional commitment to service quality and provide mechanisms for resolving issues before they escalate to formal disputes. These requirements work together to establish professional practice standards that enhance public confidence and protect individual architects from avoidable legal and financial risks.

Also, the emphasis on proactive collaboration with other professionals reflects modern construction project complexity and the need for coordinated expertise from multiple disciplines. Clear role explanation to clients prevents confusion and ensures appropriate professional boundaries, while expectation management helps prevent disappointment and conflict through realistic project scoping. Timely communication of project impacts allows stakeholders to make informed decisions and maintain trust throughout project delivery.

These collaborative requirements recognise that successful architectural projects depend on effective teamwork and communication rather than individual brilliance, promoting professional practices that serve client interests while supporting positive industry relationships.

While the examples provided throughout the Code offer practical guidance, they are not mandatory prescriptions for every situation. Architects departing from these examples must be prepared to justify their approach based on specific circumstances, professional judgment, and proportionate responses to competing priorities. This flexibility recognises that architectural practice involves complex decisions where rigid rules may not provide appropriate outcomes.

The Code acknowledges that architects may face difficult decisions and competing priorities, requiring the exercise of proportionate professional judgment. This recognition of practice realities provides architects with the flexibility needed to navigate complex situations while maintaining accountability for their decisions and their justifications.

Looking ahead, the ARB plans to engage with the architectural community and subject matter experts ensure that guidance remains relevant and practical, while consultation on each guidance document before publication maintains the collaborative approach that characterises the Code's development.

The commitment to update guidance based on industry developments ensures that regulatory support remains current with professional practice evolution, while providing practical implementation support recognises that regulatory clarity requires ongoing communication and education rather than one-time publication. This adaptive approach positions the Code as a living framework that can respond to emerging challenges while maintaining consistent core principles that protect public interest and professional integrity.

This comprehensive transformation of the ARB Code represents a fundamental evolution in architectural regulation that prioritises public safety, environmental responsibility, and professional accountability. The strong consultation support demonstrates professional readiness for these enhanced standards, positioning the architecture profession to meet contemporary challenges while maintaining and strengthening public trust through demonstrably higher professional standards.

To sum up what I discussed today:

• The new ARB Code of Conduct, which came into effect on 1st September, replaces the old 11 standards with 6 clear, outcomes-focused principles, written in accessible language for architects at all career stages.
• This Code is shaped by responses to major issues — the Grenfell Tower disaster, the climate emergency, evolving expectations around equality, diversity & inclusion, and the Building Safety Act 2022 — embedding these priorities at the heart of architectural practice.
• The six core standards, consisting of Honesty and Integrity, Public Interest, Competence, Professional Practice, Communication and Collaboration, and Respect—redefine architects’ responsibilities, requiring them to balance client needs with broader societal, environmental, and safety obligations.
• Supporting Guidance Notes on complaints, professional indemnity insurance, and terms of engagement have already been issued, with further guidance on conflicts of interest, finances, and whistleblowing now under consultation, reinforcing accountability and professional courage.
• Overall, the Code introduces enhanced obligations for continuous learning, clear accountability, transparent business practices, and collaborative working—ensuring architects maintain public trust while shaping a safer, more sustainable, and inclusive built environment.