Make architects has cut its headcount from 130 to 100 and has closed its Edinburgh office.

The announcement comes following weeks of speculation that the practice was set to make up to 70 members of staff redundant – a claim it had vigorously denied.

Make was founded by former Foster & Partners key man Ken Shuttleworth in 2004 and had been growing rapidly.

Shuttleworth told BD: “Around 30 people have come forward and we have not had to force anyone to leave. These are voluntary redundancies, not forced. We don’t foresee any more announcements on job losses until spring. Some of the 30 are students going back to college, some are contractors, most are full-time workers.”

He added: “The credit crunch is having the same effect on everybody. We have got to make sure we are being as efficient as possible. The work in Edinburgh has reduced so we decided to close the office.”

A significant proportion of the practice’s work is in the commercial sector and it has also suffered some recent high-profile set backs, such as its plans for Candy & Candy’s former scheme, Noho Square, being put on hold.

A statement by the practice said: “Over the last six months we have had a reduction in partners [workers at the firms] largely thanks to natural turnover.

"However, due to the current economic conditions our Edinburgh studio will cease operating at Christmas with all remaining work consolidated into the London and Birmingham studios.

“Our strategy for the coming years is to build on our existing work in the UK public and private sectors while actively pursuing a range of projects and opportunities globally including in Asia and the Middle East.”

Make is also designing the handball arena for the London 2012 Olympics and more than 600 hundred eco-homes for First Base at Greenwich in south-east London.