Hugh Broughton Architects in £5.7m lawsuit over Inner Temple work 

In a do،ent submitted to the High Court, the trustees of Inner Temple claim that construction of their new education and training centre had to be stopped at ‘a very advanced stage’ in July 2021 as some structures had not been provided with adequate fire protection. 

The trustees claim ‘extensive additional and remedial works were required in order to retrofit the necessary fire protection’, adding that construction only completed in October 2022, 14 months later than had been expected. 

The trustees are now pursuing Hugh Broughton Architects and three other consultants for £5.7 million, including £4.5 million paid to contractor Sir Robert McAlpine and £1.2 million for costs incurred to Inner Temple due to the delay in completion, such as wine storage and facility hire expenses (see breakdown of money being claimed below). 

The three other consultants being sued are: fire engineer Jeremy Gardner Associates; approved inspector Socotec Building Control; and structural engineer Walsh Associates. Each of the four defendants are yet to submit their defence. 

The six trustees of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple – a professional ،y for barristers –include lord justice of appeal Sir Christopher Nugee and two former lord justices of appeal, Sir Stephen Tomlinson and Sir Bernard Rix. Lord justices of appeal are the second-highest level of judge in England and Wales, behind Supreme Court judges. 

Hugh Broughton Architects began working on the Inner Temple project in mid-2013, working as architect, lead designer and contract administrator on the scheme, which ،ned planning approval in 2017. The practice provided services across RIBA stages 0-7.

The scheme saw the creation of an education and training facility within Inner Temple’s post-war Treasury building, in its estate between Fleet Street and the River Thames. The design features the insertion of a low ceiling within the building’s 1950s li،ry, removing the double-height gallery rooms to accommodate new ،es, including a 120-seat auditorium. 

However, the trustees of Inner Temple allege that new or altered loadbearing elements of the building were not designed to with،ld structural stability for 60 minutes in the event of a fire. These structural elements are: the w،le of a new fourth floor, apart from steelwork elements; the areas above the ground floor and first floor lift lobbies; and the the area above the first floor gown rooms. 

The trustees said that the design for these elements was ‘i،equate, inappropriate and deficient regard[ing] the necessary fire resistance requirements’, adding that remedial works which had to be undertaken to the project were ‘varied, extensive and disruptive’. 

They explained: ‘Depending on the area in question, [remedial work] involved: the removal of existing finishes, floors, and services; the installation of fire-rated ceilings beneath joists; the installation of flexible Knauf fire barrier insulation between joists; the overpainting of soundproof board with fire-resistant paint; the installation of Vesda smoke detection systems; and the reinstatement of finishes, floors and services.’

The trustees claim the design by Hugh Broughton Architects was defective and that the practice breached its contract by failing to act competently or to ،uce a scheme which complied with the Building Regulations 2010. 

They also allege that Hugh Broughton Architects failed to properly co-ordinate or monitor the work of other subconsultants relating to fire safety, failed to properly communicate with the client on significant design issues and failed to properly inspect construction works. 

The trustees are also suing Jeremy Gardner Associates, Walsh Associates and Socotec UK for breach of contracts relating to the alleged design defects. The consultants were each appointed in August or September 2016 and had a role in ensuring the relevant designs complied with building regulations.

Hugh Broughton Architects declined to comment. Socotec UK, Walsh Associates and Jeremy Gardner Associates have been contacted for comment.