A Scottish architectural practice has become the first in the UK to offer its services on the voucher website Groupon.

Camerons Architects, based in Edinburgh and Gallashiels, is offering a 70% discount on initial consultations through the online group buying service, meaning a dimensional survey and sketch proposal, normally £400, could cost just £120.

Director Julie Slorach said up to fifty requests for the cut-price deal can be accommodated, and six clients have already signed up.

Camerons has come under fire for discounting its services so heavily, but defended the move as a 'marketing strategy'.

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Ms Slorach said: "As this was a new endeavour for Camerons, and for Groupon, we discussed and agreed our resourcing strategy and are comfortable with the mechanisms in place. Ultimately the offer is a marketing strategy to increase our visibility to clients."

But fellow architect Peter Morris told the Architects' Journal that the move was "short-sighted".

He said that offering discount services "seriously devalues the skills of designers and the profession as a whole".

And Nick Willson, based in London, said: "If this becomes widespread, I am going to work in McDonald’s. How many of these projects would a newly qualified architect have to do to pay off the £90,000 student loan they are going to be saddled with?"

A Groupon statement said the company was "incredibly proud" to be working with Camerons.

It said: "If our partnership engages more consumers with architect services we hope this would be beneficial for the industry in the long term."

(NE)