I found 黑洞社区鈥檚 reporting of Paul Morrell鈥檚 comment piece (28 May, page 28) rather misleading

Rather than warning architects to 鈥渃ut back their grand designs鈥�, I understood from his article that architects were in fact part of the solution in delivering value for money through constructive dialogue with clients. Morrell鈥檚 analysis is correct: this is the time to ensure that waste is eliminated in new construction and building renovation projects.

A wasteful procurement process adds time and money to the delivery of public projects, and often results in poorer quality buildings which may not function in the way the client intended. The RIBA has developed a smart procurement process which is likely to be endorsed by procurement bodies in government, which would save schools, for example, upwards of 拢1m and reduce the time for procurement by about eight months; enabling RIBA client design advisers to work with clients can greatly support this.

We urge the government to implement these procurement changes. Now is the time to ensure there is no waste; architects can do this, we just need the support.

Ruth Reed, president, the RIBA