THE ROYAL INSTITUTION of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is launching its manifesto for the built environment in the lead-up to the next UK general election

According to the United Nations, the built environment generates around 40% of global carbon output. Responding, RICS is introducing new standards, guidance and toolkits that will speed up the decarbonisation of the industry.

The RICS manifesto, titled Empowering a Sustainable Future sets out a ten-point roadmap. Each point focusses on key areas, such as creating safe, sustainable, and affordable homes for all, building safety, and future skills.

Built Environment Manifesto

Key asks within the manifesto include:

Increase supply of rented homes to meet demand and slow rent rises
Deliver a joined-up quality and sustainability strategy
Review skills shortages to tackle targets
Hit housing targets with a housing delivery strategy
Action the recommendations from the recent RICS Decarbonising UK Real Estate that call for reform on how building performance and EPCs are presented.
Develop the much-needed National Fire Strategy as called on by industry to raise competency, standards and mitigation. This must include the UN-endorsed International Fire Safety Standards (IFSS) Common Principles.

A senior RICS delegation will present the manifesto and its messages at the Conservative Party and Labour Party conferences on 1-4 October and 8-11 October, 2023, respectively.

Food for Thought

RICS Chief Executive, Justin Young

RICS CEO, Justin Young, said he hoped the political policy teams at the party conferences will engage with RICS on the manifesto, providing “food for thought”.

He said: “The public needs safe, sustainable, energy-efficient, and affordable homes.

“Businesses need high-quality commercial spaces that align with the decentralised digital economy.

“While the industry needs a more robust pipeline of diverse talent that fulfils the skills demands of the sector so that it can deliver its goals.”

Duty

As the primary representative organisation of the built and natural environment sectors, RICS sees its duty as advocating policies that provide solutions to some of the most important challenges of our time.

Challenges faced by the sectors range from climate change to supply inflation and shortages, while the cost-of-living crisis has slowed the housing sector.

Endemic skills shortages undermine development in the industry while the workplace has become more fluid post-pandemic. Meanwhile, the built environment is struggling with the need to reflect the change in workforce behaviour.

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