Shadow culture minister Ed Vaizey calls for a chief architect to advise government on good public sector design

Shadow culture minister Ed Vaizey has launched a blistering attack on the design standards of housebuilders and developers, saying they build 鈥渁bsolute rubbish鈥�

Vaizey also called for a 鈥渃hief architect鈥� to sit in government and advise on good design in public sector projects.

The shadow culture minister made his attack during a debate on happiness in architecture organised by the RIBA. He said: 鈥淭he problem is so little thought goes into design. At the risk of offending a main source of Conservative party funding, I have a real problem with housebuilders and developers. I think they build absolute rubbish off a menu, and it amazes me that they get away with it. It is a symptom of major conglomerates building in small places.鈥�

Vaizey, who has responsibilty for architecture, repeated his call for a 鈥渃hief architect鈥� to help oversee design at government level.

He said: 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think we take design seriously enough. The opportunities are huge and manifold. I want a figure at the centre of government who can ensure good design is kept at the heart of decision-making.鈥�

He praised designer Wayne Hemingway鈥檚 project with Taylor Wimpey as an example of good bulk housing design. 鈥淥ne of my heroes is Wayne Hemingway,鈥� he said, 鈥渁nd what he has done with Taylor Wimpey is instructive to others in the sector.鈥�

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