The Times reports that a couple chose to purchase land in East Lothian after seeing initial plans by Alan Sheerin, who had been an architect for 46 years.

But following planning permission, a builder who came to look at the site told them that the house would not fit.

A professional conduct committee of the Architects Registration Board was told that Mr Sheerin had mistakenly moved the scale from 1:200 to 1:250.

The unnamed couple had to redesign the house and ended up with fewer bedrooms than originally planned and a smaller garden. The outside area they do have is now in shade for a large part of the day.

The tribunal concluded: “Mr Sheerin knew that someone would buy the plot in order to build the house which he had designed for them. There was a duty upon him to ensure that the house he had designed could be built.”

Mr Sheerin, who has since retired, was found guilty of serious professional incompetence and fined £1,500.