Consultation on the Architects Code of Conduct and Practice

As the statutory regulator of the architects’ profession, one of ARB’s functions is to set the standards of conduct and practice the profession must meet and take action when any architect falls below the required standards of conduct or competence. We set a Code of Conduct and Practice, and we have statutory obligations to keep the Code under review.

ARB published a new draft Code for consultation in September 2024. The proposed Code was based on six outcomes-focussed Standards, each of which is underlined with example behaviours. The Standards were intended to be underpinned by guidance, and a list of guidance topics was published as part of the consultation.

The consultation received a total of 441 responses.

More respondents agreed than disagreed with each of the proposed standards.

‘Honesty and integrity’ received the highest level of combined agreement (89%), and ‘Public interest’ received the lowest with 70%, which is still a strong majority. ‘Public interest’ also had the highest level of disagreement, but with only 16% disagreeing or strongly disagreeing.

More respondents agreed than disagreed with each of the proposed guidance topics.

‘Strongly agree’ was the most common response for each of the proposed topics. ‘Building safety’ and ‘Dealing with complaints and disputes’ received the highest level of agreement (80% and 79%), with building safety having a noticeably higher level of strong agreement (59%).

More information about how people responded to the consultation found in the full consultation analysis report.

The consultation revealed that there is strong support for our proposed Standards and guidance.

Some respondents suggested improvements to the Code’s language, helping us identify areas that need clarification. We are reviewing and considering all drafting suggestions, particularly those relating to definitions. We will also consider how we might use examples or case studies in the guidance to improve understanding.

Many of the suggestions we received were ideas that we cannot adopt, either because they are outside of our statutory remit (such as fees) or because we are not the appropriate body (such as pay or employment law). However, we will consider how we can incorporate some of the helpful or more detailed suggestions into the updated Code and the guidance we are currently developing.

We will consult on each guidance document before it is introduced, grouping them together for publication to reduce the number of consultations. At all times, we will be clear as to what guidance applies and its role, so that architects know what is expected of them, and know what standards they would be judged against should a disciplinary case come about.

We will publish the final version of the Code this summer, once the Board has considered the drafting improvements we are making in light of the consultation.

We are now also initially publishing draft versions of three of the guidance documents for consultation. This is the first of three consultations.The guidance we are consulting on initially are: 

• Dealing with complaints 

• Professional indemnity insurance 

• Terms of engagement 

You can participate in this new consultation here.