The re-shaping of the traditional professions continues as chartered surveyors voted overwhelmingly in favour of radical plans to modernise the property profession. The 130 year old RICS plans to turn itself into a "dynamic, business-led organisation offering enhanced support to members."

The RICS says it will have a stronger voice with government, business and the wider community, raise educational standards, and foster better links at local, national and international levels.

Radical change it may be but only 31% of the 75,000 members eligible to vote turned out - apparently the highest percentage on record. Of those voting 86.5% supported the proposed changes.

Welcoming the vote, RICS president Simon Kolesar said: "Major change in any democratic professional organisation is exceptionally hard to bring about. We have developed an ambitious and far-reaching, yet balanced, programme which the membership has judged for itself and for which it has delivered a very strong mandate.

"The time for introspection and internal debate is now over. We must all get on with the job of making the New RICS work, which means raising the status of this great profession of ours. Of all the professions, chartered surveyors are now in the strongest position to contribute to solving many of the major challenges facing governments and business across the world."

Nearly two years in the planning, the main features of the reformed RICS will be:

• renewed concentration on raising the status of the profession by improving educational and professional standards and training
  
  
• the replacement of the seven existing divisions with 16 specialism-led faculties that better reflect the realities of client demand
  
  
• the establishment of national associations, territories and regions to recognise the growing internationalisation of the chartered surveying profession on the one hand and of devolution within the UK on the other.
  
  
• the provision of relevant and targeted business and practice information for members, making increasing use of electronic communication.

Richard Byatt