Architect title protected in UK and John Priestley was last registered in 2010

The public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower disaster has sacked its expert architectural witness after it emerged he was not a registered architect.

John Priestley, who was appointed on Wednesday to produce a report into the architectural design of the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower, was sacked on Friday.

He had been due to examine the choice of materials, compliance with legislation and regulations, and the quality of the workmanship on the building. He was expected to draw up detailed technical evidence that would be relied on by the inquiry during its second stage, starting next spring, looking into the lead-up to the fire on 14 June 2017, which claimed 72 lives. 

According to the inquiry, before he was instructed, Priestley told officials he was a UK registered and chartered architect. However, he was last registered with the professional regulator in 2010, the Architects Journal reported. Architects must pay an annual retention fee to remain on the register.

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