New podcast explores how architects are navigating a changing regulatory landscape

The Building for What’s Next podcast brings together architects, technical experts and industry voices to discuss how the Building Safety Act (2022) has reshaped architectural practice, and how the profession is responding.

Hosted by business journalist Steve Dyson, the six-episode series unpacks the realities of working within an increasingly regulated profession, from navigating Building Control and verifying product information, to protecting creativity and preparing the next generation of architects.

The podcast series builds on wienerberger’s whitepaper, ‘The Cost of Compliance’, based on independent research among UK architects.

The research found that 95% of architects had seen compliance-related administration increase since the Building Safety Act came into force, placing greater pressure on the time and resource available for design, and that four in five said increasing regulation is hindering creativity.

Paul Instrell, chief commercial officer at wienerberger, commented:  “Architects are carrying more risk and responsibility, while also having to manage the additional time and resource required to keep pace with regulatory change. We wanted to create a platform for honest conversations about what that means in practice, bringing together voices from across the industry to explore the challenges and where architects can turn to for support.  Building for What’s Next is designed to provide practical insight into some of the challenges architects are navigating every day, and consider how to respond. We hope listeners come away with greater confidence to ask questions, draw on expertise available across the industry, and continue delivering ambitious, high-quality architecture in an increasingly complex environment.”

The series opens with John Palmer, executive member of the Association of Building Control Approvers (ABCA) and managing director at OWL Building Control Solutions, tackling one of the questions facing architects today: what does Building Control really expect from them?

John addresses common misunderstandings around the approvals process, explores why seemingly compliant designs can still face challenge and shares his perspective on what a strong Building Control application looks like in practice.

Later episodes, launched weekly, broaden the conversation to explore some of the biggest questions emerging from the regulatory landscape – including growing scrutiny of product information, the commercial and resource pressures facing practices, whether compliance is impacting creative decision-making, and how knowledge and experience can be passed on to the next generation of architects.

Contributors include Steve Marr, chief operating officer at the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI); Victoria Millward, director at Paddock Johnson and board member of the Architectural Technical Lead Group (ATLG); Kristofer Adelaide, founder of KA—Architecture; and lecturers and masters students from Birmingham City University.

The first episode, “What does Building Control really expect from architects?” will be available to listen to across all major podcast platforms from Wednesday 16th September. Subscribe here to receive the latest updates www.wienerberger.co.uk/podcast