A BUDE architect and Eden Project co-founder has been elected to the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Council.

Jonathan Ball has been elected to serve on the council from September 1 for a period of three years.

Mr Ball was chosen from a national election of the 28,000 UK-based members of the RIBA for one of six places available, and 23 candidates standing nationally for election.

He becomes a trustee of the Institute and will serve under incoming RIBA president Jane Duncan, who takes over from current president Stephen Hodder on September 1.

Mr Ball has a rich past record with the RIBA, having previously served on RIBA Council from 1981 to 1999. He had two stints as vice-president of the institute from 1991 to 1993, and as VP (parliamentary affairs) from 1983 to 1985.

He was honorary secretary from 1988 to 1991, and 1993 to 1995, was a trustee of the British Architectural Library, and chair of the parliamentary liaison group from 1981 to 1987.

Mr?Ball is also a past chair of both the RIBA Cornwall branch and the RIBA South West region, and was appointed MBE for services to Architecture in 1992. Most recently, he has published his books The Other Side of Eden (2014), and The Winds Call No Man Sir (2015).

Mr Ball joins four other RIBA members of the 65-strong RIBA Council from the South West — Mark Kemp from Launceston, Bob Brown from Plymouth University, Nick Mills from Stroud, and Andrew Bourne from Bristol.

Mr Ball said: “I am thrilled with this election result. Whilst being elected as a national candidate I will, as before, be waving the flag of St Piran vigorously.

“The Royal Institute of British Architects holds considerable sway and influence on all issues affecting the built environment and in securing a desirable future for society. I intend to contribute positively to the debates on rural housing, on securing the viability and vitality of rural communities and promoting the sustainable development of the visitor economy to operate in harmony with the local environment and its cultures so that communities become the permanent beneficiaries of tourism and not its victims.”

For the full report, and a round-up of the area news and sport, see this week’s edition of the Post.