Royal Fine Art Commission

Set up in 1924 by royal warrant, the Royal Fine Art Commission (RFAC) acted as an advisory body to the government on all things architectural and aesthetic about the city. Although it lacked statutory powers, the Commission worked to influence and encourage decisions made about the built environment, urban design and the use of public space and amenities. These duties were extended in 1933, enabling the Commission to attract the government's attention to any development which impacted national urban design or the aesthetics of the public character. With increasing influence on planning permission submissions, the Commission's reach was further extended in 1946 by giving it the power to make inspections and request information on prospective projects. In post-War London, the Commission played a strong role in the planning and reconstruction of the city, from the design of new buildings to the alteration and re-use of existing ones. By the time it was decommissioned, the RFAC was an important influence on and part of the design process for the rebuilding and construction of new buildings nation-wide. It also had a major influence on the placement of memorials and statues, the style and use of street lighting and the construction of roads and motorways.

In 1999, the RFAC's functions were taken over by the newly established Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE), which continued to act in this independent capacity until 2011.

Source of information:http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details/AssetMain?iaid=C35 http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110118095356/http://www.cabe.org.uk/about/what-we-do