<p>Post-occupancy evaluations should be a condition of housebuilders receiving Help to Buy payments, according to the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).</p> <p>In a report - <i>POE:</i> <i>an essential tool to improve the built environment</i> – RIBA calls upon the government, local authorities and the wider construction sector to embed post-occupancy evaluation (POE) as standard “to ensure all new buildings meet intended energy efficiency ratings and provide optimum value for money”. Under POE, the building’s in-use performance is assessed after it has been built and occupied. </p> <p>RIBA wishes for “systematic change” within the built environment with the government leading the charge and supported by architects and others, including housebuilders. </p> <p>It therefore recommends within its report that the government stipulates POE as a requirement for all publicly funded buildings and housebuilders receiving Help to Buy support.</p> <p>The report also recommends the government consider how Building Regulations could accommodate POE, and that those designing and constructing buildings should emphasise the benefits of POE to clients, including it as standard when bidding for projects.</p> <p>Alan Jones, RIBA’s president, said: <span>“</span>As Dame Judith Hackett noted in her report on the disaster at Grenfell Tower, a complete change in construction industry culture is …