New RIBA Plan of Work goes live

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has officially launch the RIBA Plan of Work 2013.  

Following a comprehensive review this major upgrade ensures that the 50 year-old RIBA Plan of Work continues to reflect the very best principles in contemporary building practice.

In addition to essential updates, on elements such as procurement and sustainability, for the first time some tasks can be tailored using an online tool.

The first RIBA Plan of Work was conceived at a time when the regulatory framework for building design and construction, industry structures and procurement arrangements were simpler and more defined - very different from those in use today.   

The RIBA Plan of Work 2013 responds to the impetus provided by the publication of the UK Government Construction Strategy for the RIBA to take a leading role, and working closely with the Construction Industry Council (CIC), shape a set of unified work stages suitable for use by all the members of the project team.

RIBA President Angela Brady said: “This has been a meticulously detailed project which has delivered a brilliant solution to a once in a generation opportunity to update the industry’s process model and address key changes in areas such as procurement, town planning, sustainability, BIM and construction delivery. I encourage all architects to support the new plan which gives clarity to our role and clarity for our clients.”  

The new RIBA Plan of Work 2013 replaces the former A-L stages in the RIBA Outline Plan of Work 2007 with eight new numbered stages and eight task bars that replace the description of key tasks. Three of these task bars (procurement, programme and planning) can be customised via a new online tool.