Architect reports profit fall as its operations in Ireland and Abu Dhabi struggle

Architect Pascall + Watson has seen its pre-tax profit halve as its operations in Ireland and Abu Dhabi struggled.

In accounts filed at Companies House, the firm reported a drop in pre-tax profit from 拢1.1m to 拢548,247 in the year to 30 April 2012.

However, the firm, which designed the concept for the new Blackfriars station in London, also reported a rise in turnover from 拢16.3m to 拢16.8m over the period.

In the accounts Alan Lamond, director at Pascall + Watson, said turnover from its Abu Dhabi and Ireland offices was down by an average of 30%.

He added: 鈥淗owever, with promising signs for the future through the Louvre, Abu Dhabi coming back on stream and Ireland securing a major transportation project in Norway, the practice is committed to both offices going forward.鈥

He said the firm would need to secure a major project to replace the revenue from its work undertaken on Jeddah Airport to ensure its turnover next year was comparable with 2011-2012.

The accounts revealed work from the UK increased from 拢7.5m to 拢10.5m over the period while revenue from Europe and the rest of the world both declined.

Revenue from Europe fell from 拢3.3m in 2011 to 拢1.4m in 2012, while revenue from the rest of the world fell from 拢5.4m to 拢4.9m over the period.

The accounts also revealed the firm has made a provision for 拢250,000 for an ongoing arbitration on an unnamed Italian job. The document said that despite the original arbitration finding in favour of the firm and its two partner firms on the project 鈥渢here remains potential for further costs to be incurred鈥.

Pascall + Watson also reported a rise in employees over the period from 167 to 183.