Pickard Finlason Partnership Ltd v Lock & Anr

[2014] EWHC 25 (TCC)

Here Pickard Finlason Partnership (“PFP”) was employed to provide a full professional service in relation to the design and construction of a development in Cheshire. In return, they would receive 10% of the final cost of the project. The parties did not contract on the RIBA standard form of appointment – bespoke terms were created and tailored to the particular client and project. The fee was payable in four stages and included terms entitling them to 40% of the total fee upon planning permission being obtained and the development cost accurately established.

PFP was aware that the client required funding for the project and agreed to keep their fees low until planning was achieved and further funds raised. Accordingly, the following terms were agreed which specifically concerned the planning period:

• “In accordance with RIBA guidelines we are entitled to 40% of our overall fee for the work up to planning determination, however for your project we recognise the need to be flexible and we therefore offer to reduce our invoicing to 20%.”
   
• “Our fee entitlement remains at 40% but this proposal keeps our fee payments low during the early stages of a project. Once planning is obtained a more accurate cost of the building and contract works can be established and the professional fee entitlement and overall fee is recalculated and the balance of our fees due becomes payable. At that stage we would agree a lump sum for the remainder of our fees.”
   
• “We will recalculate and re-advise you of our fee entitlement when the development area and cost become firm.”

By the time planning permission was granted, the relationship between the parties had broken down. PFP raised their invoice but the Locks did not pay. The Locks were unable to obtain funding for the revised scheme which ultimately had been granted permission. They considered that PFP had failed to give them proper advice at the relevant times about the risks and costs of this revised scheme. In addition, the Locks claimed that PFP had failed to obtain firm costs from contractors which would have enabled them to move the development forward. Ultimately, PFP commenced proceedings claiming the balance of their 40% fee.

HHJ Davies held that, on proper construction of their bespoke terms, PFP’s claim failed – they were not entitled to their invoiced amount of approximately £182k. They had not established, post-planning permission, a firm and accurate cost for the building works – which was a condition precedent to rendering their invoice. The express wording of their appointment made it clear that the cost only became “firm” once the cost estimates were refined and the contract sum was known and once “a more accurate cost of the building and contract works can be established”. It was not enough to simply revisit the cost plan and undertake any recalculation required. As PFP had not procured a tender from a contractor which the Locks were willing and able to accept, they were not entitled to present their invoice. Finally, the Judge also held that PFP had failed to comply with their obligation to provide an indication of the magnitude of the cost of the revised scheme at any time during the feasibility stage.

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