Unfair procurement hurdles in the UK blamed for architecture firms losing work

Brisac Gonzalez director Edgar Gonzalez has admitted that a job his practice has just won in Paris would not have been awarded to it by a UK client.

Along with Paris firm Antoine Regnault Architecture, the practice has landed a scheme to build 150 social housing units together with a sports centre, school and retail space.

The scheme for the city authority in charge of building public housing carries a £28 million price tag and attracted a bid from another British firm S333.

Gonzalez said: “In Paris, there is a willingness to look at smaller practices rather than the very big practices. I don’t think we would have got a project like this in the UK.

“If a PQQ was out for a project like this in the UK, we probably wouldn’t go for it because the initial requirements would be too high.”

And Gonzalez said the amount the firm was paid meant it was easier to chase deals like this overseas. “We were paid €45,000 for the competition. We don’t make money out of it but we don’t lose our shirt either.”

In May, an RIBA report said design competitions should be used for a third of all public sector construction contracts so that smaller firms have a better chance of winning.

Brisac Gonzalez is designing the sports centre, school and 50 of the homes. Work in the Batignolles area of the French capital is due to start on site next summer.