Architect refuses to be Principle Designer on a project - red flag?

[Sideextension]

Hello,
An architect i contacted for designing a side extension and some refurb to my house says that while they will do all the designs etc., I would need to add my name as the principle designer.

Is this common, or a red flag? I have tried to understand the role of a principle designer by reading up but havent entirely understood this. I guess this role is needed for building controls (as well as for planning permission?)
i dont think i can ask my builder to become principle designer? I haven't even applied for planning permission yet. Should I steer clear of this architect for this reason?

No idea what a principal designer is! When we did our building work we didn't use an architect as we knew exactly what we wanted to do. We just paid a structural engineering to do calcs for the steels etc. And the builder just follows these instructions.
I don't remember the word principle designer appearing on any paperwork but who knows it may have done and was probably my name!
Although we weren't building any new structures, just altering existing ones so we didn't need planning permission, just building control sign off.

"Principal designers’ duties
As the principal designer you must carry out designers’ duties and the duties for principal designers. You must have the necessary competence requirements to work as a principal designer.
It is important you are part of the design team and not a third party without any influence over design decisions.
You must plan, manage, monitor and co-ordinate matters related to the design work. This means you must:

• take reasonable steps to make sure all designers comply with their duties under building regulations
• assess design work to make sure all designers produce designs that comply with relevant building regulations
• work with the principal contractor and share information about planning, managing, monitoring and co-ordinating the design and building work
• assist the client in providing information to others, if requested

You must take reasonable steps to make sure anyone working on the design co-operates, communicates and co-ordinates their work with:

• the client
• the principal contractor
• other designers and contractors

If there is a principal contractor working on the project, you must consider any comments they make in relation to compliance with building regulations. As the principal designer you can delegate certain functions to others, but that does not make them the principal designer. The legal responsibilities remain with you. If you stop being the principal designer, you must give the client a document that explains the arrangements you put in place to fulfil your duties. You must do this no later than 28 days after your appointment as principal designer ends. If you are appointed to replace a previous principal designer, you must review any arrangements they put in place to meet their legal duties. Higher-risk building work: principal designers’ duties You have additional duties if the project involves higher-risk building work, you must:

• establish and operate a mandatory occurrence reporting system
• submit mandatory occurrence notices and reports to BSR
• store the required information about the building (also known as the golden thread), and provide it to the client and the principal contractor as necessary
• keep and share with the client the steps you have taken to make sure those you appoint to do design work meet the competence requirements

"

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/design-and-building-work-meeting-building-requirements#principal-designers-duties

I would say it's a red flag!

Get another architect. More red flags than Stalin's funeral.

I would suggest their PI doesn’t cover them - it’s not actually unusual for small practices and just means you need to employ a separate PD

Absolutely not. Hard pass and next.