A VETERAN Inverclyde architect has been struck off for unacceptable professional conduct.

Richard Robb, who had a practice in Albert Road in Gourock, failed to cooperate with his own regulator after a complaint against him and to provide evidence of his professional indemnity insurance (PII).

Robb, who had been an architect for 39 years, also failed to attend a two day Architects Registration Board (ARB) professional conduct committee hearing in July.

It heard how the ARB launched an investigation into Robb following a complaint in September 2022.

The investigation continued despite the architect closing his practice and retiring three months later.

The committee was told Robb failed to respond to letters or emails following the complaint against him.

(Image: George Munro) Robb, 67, said he no longer needed to be on the architects’ register due to his retirement.

He just wanted to forget about the complaint and that that he was not interested in the proceedings.

In their written judgement, obtained by the Telegraph, the professional conduct committee said Robb ‘consistently demonstrated a wilful refusal to fully and promptly engage and cooperate with his regulator’, in breach of the Architects’ Code.

The ARB described it as a fundamental requirement that an architect comply fully with them so as not to erode the integrity of the profession.

They added: "The fact that the registered person was approaching retirement does not absolve him of this responsibility."

The committee heard how Robb failed to respond to repeated requests from the ARB, via letter, email, and phone call, to provide evidence of his PII The board said: "It is essential that ARB can monitor the insurance cover possessed by architects in order to protect the public.

"A wilful refusal to provide this information undermines this protection and therefore would be considered deplorable by fellow professionals and the public."

The ARB said Robb's conduct was aggravated by his persistent failure to engage in the disciplinary process, and an ‘enduring refusal to acknowledge his failings’.

Their seven page judgement added: "The Professional Conduct Committee found the Registered Person (Robb) guilty of unacceptable professional conduct in that he failed to cooperate with regulatory requirements and investigations.

"The Registered Person has demonstrated a serious lack of insight and an enduring refusal to acknowledge his failings or to accept that retirement does not allow him to avoid his obligations.

"The Committee is satisfied that the proven conduct is fundamentally incompatible with continuing to be an architect.

"The Committee lacks confidence that a repeat offence will not occur given the persistent lack of insight demonstrated by the Registered Person into the seriousness of his conduct. "

The ARB removed Robb from the Architects Register for a minimum of two years, after which he can apply to be reinstated.

At the time of his retiral in December 2022 Robb was a member of the Royal Institute of Architects (RIBA), and an Associate of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (ARIAS).

He graduated as an architect in 1983, opened Richard Robb Architects in Gourock in 2000 and moved to the Albert Road premises in 2005.