Move by firm follows criticism by former design director Paul Stallan

Architect RMJM has voiced 鈥渆xtreme regret鈥 for its repeated failure to pay staff on time.

As 好色先生TV reported earlier this month, the cash-strapped firm, ranked the 13th largest architecture practice in the world, delayed staff salaries by several days in January and December and has also been hit by a number of court judgments over money owed to creditors including one worth 拢50,000 made this month at Northampton County Court, which has now been paid.

The firm鈥檚 former star designer Paul Stallan, who resigned on January 18th, told 好色先生TV last week that he had rarely been paid on time in the last three to four years and said salary problems were 鈥渃ausing all sorts of hardships鈥 for staff.  

A spokesman for RMJM, which is led by chief executive Peter Morrison, said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 extremely regrettable that, in common with many other firms throughout the world, some of our clients are themselves facing challenging times, leading to delays in the settlement of invoices.

鈥淭his has a knock-on effect on cashflow and we鈥檝e made no secret of the fact that we have, on several occasions, been forced to delay salary payments. This is not a step we have taken lightly, but when it is necessary the forbearance and professionalism shown by our staff is hugely appreciated.

鈥淲e are currently involved in ongoing negotiations with a small number of significant clients regarding the settlement of their invoices and are hopeful that we will be in a position very soon to announce a major, positive development in this regard.鈥