November 3 2011

BDP, the largest architectural practice in the UK, has announced plans to close its Edinburgh studio as part of a UK wide retrenchment – and relocate its entire staff 40 miles west to Glasgow, just three and a half years since the studio opened for business.

The move is part of a wider  series of cutbacks which will see the firms Belfast, Liverpool and Winchester offices all close their doors as the practice responds to falling profits, down 50% over the year to June 2011 at £1.96m.

That process has instigated a period of ‘streamlining’ whereby the company aims to effect payroll savings by cutting as many as 139 posts from their present 926 strong workforce.

BDP’s Glasgow office is currently drawing up Land Securities enormous Buchanan Galleries redevelopment, which includes a remodelling of Queen Street Station.

It marks an inauspicious period in BDPs long history as an industry heavyweight as it celebrates its half century.

Peter Drummond, BDP’s chief executive, said: ‘We had a reasonable performance last year, although turnover and profitability were down. This reflects the current economic context and commercial confidence along with public sector cuts, all combining to make the UK design and construction industry a tough place to be.’

Redundancies continue to affect architectural firms with Glasgow based Hypostyle also recently shedding around 10 posts.

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