WWYD Architect messed up planning application

[partystress]

Never having done an extension before, we paid an architect to draw up plans and see thru the process of getting permission. To cut a v long story short, he made basic admin errors (getting our address wrong, twice) which meant that 7weeks on from when he had told us we could expect PP to be thru, we are about to go on holiday still not knowing. We had hoped worst of building work would be done while we were away: instead we have not even been able to book the builder in. Architect has given loads of false hope dates, but is now saying "what do you expect me to do?". What can I expect him to do?

If things have gone this far wrong this early, it's time to find another architect. You don't want him managing your build for you, do you, if he can't get your address right?

Can you speak to the planning dept yourself to find out how long it will take? Have there been any objections? If not it's possible it can be decided under delegated powers. However, it may need to go to the Planning Committee so you need to know when the next meeting is and whether your application will be presented then.

At the very least you'll have a more accurate idea of timings than your architect is giving you.

Thanks fresh. Finally did make contact with planning officer myself today which is how I found out about the second botched application and that he was basically talking bull with the over optimistic dates he had given us previously.

Project is pretty simple fortunately, so we weren't using him to manage the build. Just massively frustrating to pay a "professional" to do something on your behalf and have them behave so unprofessionally

I think there is a complaints procedure via the RIBA website. If you've caught him out in lying to you (especially if you have it in writing) then firstly you should invite him to refund some of your fees, and secondly you should instigate a complaint.

There are loads of good architects out there who would want you to do the same.

you have my sympathy. Exactly the same happened to us. We were expecting planning permission after 8 weeks - after 7 weeks the planning officer threw our plans our because the 'architect' hadn't plotted the trees on the boundary with the neighbour.

Said neighbour had complained we would damage his trees.

Whole thing had to be started all over again and we had to pay for a tree survey. I was going to complain to RIBA but it turned out he wasn't a qualified architect - just somebody that everyone and their dog had used locally.

We were beyond angry.

Oh dear patty. Wondering if we have made the same mistake. Company call themselves architects and architectural development consultants. The guy we are dealing with is the MD, but checking his biz card now it says architectural development consultant and a RIBA search doesn't find him

If it is of any consolation, planning applications are tricky. Our local Planning Office seem to play a game of seeing how much work they can avoid doing by refusing to register applications due to minor administrative problems! I think that it is their way of dealing with staff shortages. If your local borough is as bad as ours your architects are fighting a grim fight......

I wouldn't mind at all if it meant we had good local building standards, but they take no interest in the widespread flouting of planning laws around here. Whole buildings are constructed without any sort of permission and noone from the planning office takes any interest..... but woe-betide you if you get a tick in the wrong box if you do apply...

I better stop before I get into a full rant flow. Anyway sorry you seem to have got caught up in a similar bureaucratic mess. Hope you get it sorted soon.

He may not be on the RIBA database as this is a professional membership which is optional. The place to check if an architect is a real architect is the ARB www.arb.org.uk/
if they are, you can complain through them.
It does however sound like you've picked someone who isn't a professional which makes it harder to complain as they are unlikely to be properly insured or have a complaints process so are unlikely to respond. If this is the case you might have write it off to experience. However if they have ever referred to themselves as 'architects' (must be architect) then please report them to ARB as they can fine them for misuse of title which won't solve your problem but will give the comfort that somebody else won't be similarly sucked in.

I wholeheartedly second wonklegs request to report your 'architect' if he is not.

Gives us all a bad name.

Sorry to hear of your plight as well.