Amin Taha has delivered a withering assessment of the architectural understanding demonstrated by the newest waves of local authority planning officers – dubbing the profession historically “illiterate”.

The Groupwork boss, who this summer won a long-running battle with Islington council over his double RIBA Award-winning 15 Clerkenwell Close home and practice office, said the prevailing culture in planning departments risked further lowering built environment standards.

Speaking in relation to façades and architectural context at an event organised by Building Design’s publisher Assemble Media Group, which also featured Eric Parry and Stirling Prize-winner David Mikhail as keynote speakers, Taha made clear that he was not referring to the approval process for Clerkenwell Close, which secured consent in 2013.

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