ARB’s Professional Conduct Committee (PCC) has issued architect Elliot Goodall of Studio Spicer Architects, with a reprimand after he admitted unacceptable professional conduct (UPC)
Elliot Goodall was instructed to assist his client, a developer, with planning drawings for five detached houses in a new development.
The client submitted a complaint to ARB following discrepancies in floor plans, elevations and window schedules that led to multiple issues and problems with the construction. In particular, the drawing for one of the plots did not comply with the approved planning permission and resulted in the roof having to be demolished and rebuilt.
Following ARB’s investigation, Goodall accepted he had produced drawings that were inaccurate and lacked adequate detail, contrary to Standard 6 and 6.1 of the Architects Code, and that this amounted to UPC.
PCC considerations
Goodall’s failure to check the drawings complied with the planning permission was conduct lacking skill and care. It also concluded Goodall should have been aware the elevation drawings were inadequately detailed and should not have provided them without making it clear that further drawings would be required before the client began construction.
When considering sanction the PCC took note of Elliot Goodall’s admissions and that he had engaged in the regulatory process. It also considered the risk of repetition to be low due to the genuine remorse expressed by Goodall and the subsequent steps he had taken to change his practices and procedures. Therefore, it considered a reprimand to be the appropriate and proportionate sanction.
