December 10 2024

Ben Addy, the founding director of Moxon Architects, has given evidence to the Scottish Parliament outlining how architecture has been disadvantaged by Brexit.

Speaking on behalf of the RIAS Addy warned that the profession is slipping behind its European peers as a result of new barriers to trade and called for targeted government support to level the playing field and promote Scottish architects on the world stage.

Addy said: “As one of only a few Scottish architecture studios competing for work in Europe, it is clear that we are disadvantaged compared to our peers in the EU.

“Firstly, there is still no mutual recognition agreement in place for UK architects wishing to work in the EU. At Moxon, we have a niche where we can work under the wing of EU-domiciled consultancies, but for many of our peers, this does not apply.

“Secondly, Scotland has a misdirected approach to public procurement, whereby, for the sake of small, short-term savings, local talent is often excluded rather than promoted. This results in a diminished domestic architecture scene, overly dependent upon private clients for commissioning good quality architecture."

The RIAS advocates support for architecture firms wishing to cultivate European partners and learn how to navigate design competitions on the continent to maintain frayed European links. Karen Anderson, the newly elected president of the architects body, added: “We urge the UK Government to revisit the botched negotiations on mutual recognition and accelerate the work of the Architects Registration Board and the Council of European Architects to find a solution.

“However, recognition is just one of many post-Brexit issues including visa barriers to working abroad and recruiting and retaining EU nationals, including those graduating from Scottish architecture schools. But the biggest barrier is a collapse in work and fees, which diminishes the scope to invest in foreign ventures. Other symptoms include delays and unreliability in supply chains which are slowing down construction projects and disrupting forward work planning."

Anderson also called for the Scottish Government to get its house in order by reforming procurement processes to value design over cost.

Since Britain's exit from the European Union in 2016 Scotland has been reliant on the Architects Registration Board and RIBA to manage relations with the Architects Council of Europe, bypassing the RIAS.

8 Comments

#1 Posted by Zack David on 10 Dec 2024 at 14:11 PM

Respectfully, the issues you mentioned are not a direct result of Brexit but rather a consequence of a poorly negotiated trade deal. We should not be aligning our standards with those of the "sick man of the world." Additionally, we should not be discouraging local procurement in favor of multinationals, a practice enforced by the EU, by the way.

Furthermore, the government should be encouraging architecture firms to design local projects in traditional styles that people actually appreciate. The pet projects of self-important so-called artists are making our cities increasingly unattractive.

#2 Posted by Euro Phil on 10 Dec 2024 at 15:58 PM

#1 your first sentence is nonsense. I didn't bother with the rest.

#3 Posted by pog mo thoin on 10 Dec 2024 at 21:23 PM

Euro Phil Whilst I agree with your sentiment concerning the first sentence by #1 I think his opening sentence of paragraph 2 is even worse !

#4 Posted by Lovely on 11 Dec 2024 at 08:17 AM

Can someone just remind us first why Scotland left the EU when we voted massively as a country to stay in?

#5 Posted by Fresh Prince of Bel End on 11 Dec 2024 at 09:55 AM

#4 September 2014 is the date, innit?

#6 Posted by considering my membership on 11 Dec 2024 at 11:14 AM

This comment is nothing to do with Moxon who are very accomplished. But thoughts are that it seems increasingly that the RIAS think the pool of architects in Scotland is extremely small indeed (perhaps their membership has been falling - would be good to know?)... and seems to be mostly and exercise in parachuting in from London for platforming anyone beyond their chosen few.

This is before they openly attack their own members in the national press (a recent phenomenon) whilst ignoring their own failings. What do they actually deliver for membership? It must be worth it if you're one of the chosen favourites but even then...

#7 Posted by Point of order on 11 Dec 2024 at 11:18 AM

4+5 .... but Scotland is NOT a country by any definition of the word country. As a political entity, it is a colony. The rest is all window dressing and 5 knows it.

#8 Posted by The game is afoot on 11 Dec 2024 at 15:05 PM

Perhaps a colonised country even?

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