So our architect was extremely unhelpful on our self build; as soon as he had the full payment, he was entirely disinterested. Whenever a problem cropped up he didn't want to liaise with anyone or help with a solution; this was left to us and the builder. Builder doesn't understand why architect became basically combative. Suffice to say, we have not had him on the build for a long while. Architect never resigned as principal designer or alluded to resigning. He is on paper as our PD. So - now he has nothing to do with the build, who is the PD? Do we find a new architect and ask them to be PD? I've read the principal contractor becomes PD in a case like this; the builder is PC and has overseen that it's being built to design and has taken all the photos etc of every stage. However, I've also read on the Building Control site (Stroma) that we as the self builders can sign off as PD.

Help. I don't want to break any rule or make a huge mistake. Any advice? There have been no changes from the main design, it's been built entirely to the correct spec etc. We may have a staircase tweak as the architect said stairs would be designed by stair company, and the stairs planned by the architect do not work to regs.

3 hours ago, Cookie said:

We may have a staircase tweak as the architect said stairs would be designed by stair company, and the stairs planned by the architect do not work to regs.

I don’t know how far along you are or how much tweaking is reqd but I’d get on top of that as soon as possible. A staircase that satisfies the regs may require some structural alterations.

Sorry, I’m not up to speed enough to advise on what you should do regarding PD. Good luck.

Had the same problem with our staircase, architect designed it and the staircase company discovered it wouldn’t comply with regs, got it sorted out eventually but needed an amendment to warrant

2 hours ago, recoveringbuilder said:

Had the same problem with our staircase, architect designed it and the staircase company discovered it wouldn’t comply with regs, got it sorted out eventually but needed an amendment to warrant

Hi - I don't know what 'an amendment to warrant' is. We are just finishing up first fix and the poorly-designed stair is a secondary helical stair. We may need to raise an external exit door by 54mm. Does that require this amendment? Did you continue with your architect as PD? Thanks!

Edited Thursday at 19:473 days by Cookie

The "amendment to warrant" is a Scottish thing and wouldn't apply to England and Wales. Pass the helical stair details onto your BCO and advise them of the impact on the door. They can then check for compliance and incorporate the change into their job file.

My take on the PD thing is that your architect executed the original design and you are building out that design save for a couple of minor tweaks. At the conclusion BC will ask you to fill in a form confirming the roles during the project. I'd fill in the architect as the PD and the builder as the contractor.

Ultimately stating who held these roles is so that should anything really bad happen, blame can be apportioned which proved to be difficult post the Grenfell Tower fire. Unless your house falls down or burns spectacularly to the ground, that form will never be looked at again.

Assuming you appointed him correctly and he hasn't resigned then I would expect that legally he is still the PD.

You could appoint someone else, or yourself if you wish but if the changes are minor then i'm not sure you are really going into PD territory.

If he refuses to sign off at the end then you could appoint yourself as PD and sign yourself, it sounds like you probably have a better overview of the build anyway.