ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉúTV

The UK’s largest architect, BDP, is to shut four of its regional offices

The practice today confirmed that it is to close its Belfast, Liverpool, Winchester and Edinburgh offices following the news that BDP’s £700m scheme in Preston for Lend Lease - the Tithebarn – had been shelved.

Last month, ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉúTV revealed that the firm was preparing to make up to 100 of its staff redundant after public sector spending cuts were compounded by a serious delay to one of its biggest contracts – a £420 million hospital redevelopment in Brighton.

BDP’s Northern Ireland office – which currently employs 18 people - has been operating since the 1960s will close its doors at the end of the year.

The practice pointed to the lack of work in Northern Ireland for the forthcoming closure.

The Winchester office is also expected to shut while the Liverpool office will move to nearby Manchester with the staff from the Edinburgh office moving to the Glasgow office.