The government has announced it will abolish the limit on the number of fast-track visas it hands out to “exceptionally talented” professionals including architects.

The news, which was buried in the 150 pages of detail issued after yesterday’s Queen’s speech, is likely to be welcomed by practices concerned about Brexit hitting their ability to recruit the best talent. A fifth of architects in the UK are from the EU.

Architects were only added to the list of professions covered by the tier 1 exceptional talent visa at the start of this year after lobbying from the RIBA. The institute has repeatedly said that expected barriers to immigration once Britain leaves the EU were a major threat to the profession.

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