So long as there is a Brexit deal by 29th March, then until the end of the transition period, UK architects will have full access to the EU single market – so they can trade tariff-free with the EU market within the European Customs Union. However, after 2020, the government does not intend to remain a member of the Single Market or the Customs Union.
RIBA believes it is crucial that the UK leaving the EU does not lead to compromises over quality or sustainability with a race to the bottom on building standards. Its chief executive Alan Vallance says that “the architect sector thrives on its diversity, benefiting from different ways of working and varied backgrounds and experience.”
A recent survey found 60% of EU architects working in the UK have considered leaving the country because of Brexit. More than a fifth of the 40,000 architects in the UK originate the EU. The Brexit deal will have a significant impact on recruitment and threatens to the success and economic growth of the architectural sector.