Archie has dealt with compensation and compulsory purchase work for most of his 50 years as a Chartered Surveyor, and has gained very substantial experience acting for acquiring authorities in numerous compulsory purchase schemes. He has also appeared as Expert Witness in a number of Lands Tribunal cases. He was formerly Chief Valuer Scotland, leading the District Valuer Services (DVS)’s Transport and Infrastructure Team in Scotland, and was involved in acquiring properties for projects such as M74 Extension, M80 Extension, M8 Widening, New Kincardine Bridge, Edinburgh Tramlines , Waverley Rail Link, Forth Replacement Crossing, AWPR and numerous other schemes. He retired from full time work in 2016. He is a former Chairman of RICS Scotland, and chaired CPA in Scotland for seven years, and remains actively involved in CPO and other policy work.

He retired from the Board of NHBC Scotland and UK Finance Scotland Stakeholder Group last year, but still sits on the Board of Hillcrest Enterprises (a part of Hillcrest Housing Group) and is a member of the Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on Housing.