Using UK architects ‘is killing local industry’
Wednesday 17th December 2008, 2:55PM GMT.
IN the current economic climate, using UK architects and landscape designers is killing Jersey’s industry, local architects have warned.
It is claimed that there is an ‘unprecedented’ number of UK architects working in Jersey on large projects.
Association of Jersey Architects president Mike Waddington has made a plea to politicians on behalf of his members to support local firms.
He said: ‘AJA members are reporting to me that they are concerned about the bite of the UK recession creating an opportunity for UK architects to work in Jersey and they feel now more than ever in need of robust political support for the local profession. Most local practices support and train local young people and we certainly understand Jersey relevance and buildings that fit our Island context.’
The AJA had an extraordinary general meeting on Monday to discuss their concerns.
Pictured: Mike Waddington
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Question to Mr Waddington: Why are people using UK architects and landscape designers rather than local?
I feel that the answer to his problems might lie in the answer to that question.
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About time, i wish you the best of luck in what would appear, on the face of things to be a huge uphill struggle.
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The problem may well resolve itself over time and would, ironically, be due to the Planning Department. Mainland architectural practices will be used to far more expedient and efficient planning policies and frameworks – and certainly wouldn’t suffer from elected officials who get involved beyond their remit and add to the confusion and delay.
Mainland practices will only be getting work if they are under-cutting the fee proposals from local architects and designers, but this may be due to them being unfamiliar with the laborius and protracted process of planning applications in Jersey. They may well find themselves having under-priced their services to their cost and would not be that keen to take a second bite at the Jersey cherry.
I should also think, although I’m not certain, that mainland architectural services should incurr the full UK vat charge, irrespective of the project being built in Jersey, as the service has been provided in the UK. Would Jersey clients not have to consider this as part of any fee proposal? One for the tax department I propose. The AJA may wish to investigate this and see if it is enforcable, and if it is then they have a 15% – 17.5% head start on mainland rivals.
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