Architect does not respond | Setting deadline is fruitless

Hello everyone,

since I am now somewhat clueless, I wanted to describe my situation here in the hope of getting another opinion.
The following situation:
I want to renovate a terraced house, preferably with a general contractor. Last year I came across an architect/developer through recommendations. The communication was always a bit strange, but the appointments gave me a good feeling and so did the experiences from my circle of acquaintances.
In the first step (and luckily not more), the architect was commissioned with the planning, submission, and approval of dormer windows.
The plans were delivered and the first installment according to the contract was paid. Upon submission of the plans after review and signature by the neighbors, the second installment was paid and from that point on there was initially only sparse communication and for about 1.5 months none at all.
A deadline was set and passed without response.
Another problem is that I have no plans to give to another architect.

My idea was now to withdraw from the contract and hope to recover some of the money. At the same time, I will probably commission another company so as not to lose any more time.

Would you proceed this way as well, or are there perhaps other ideas or opinions?

Best regards

What deadline did you set? Has the building application been submitted?

But your architect has to be somehow accessible to you, right? It's hard for me to understand. Was the application definitely submitted?

Is the approval already through? You write that he made and submitted the plans, so at least he did what he was commissioned to do. The plans are with the building authority, I guess as the builder you can get them there. The behavior is still strange, of course, no question.

Is there a visitable office?
Is there any reason that the architect also found the communication "strange"?

When submitting the plans after review and signature by the neighbors, the second installment was paid and from that point on there was initially only sparse communication and for about 1.5 months none at all.
A deadline was set and passed without response.
Another problem is that I have no plans that I could give to another architect.

Now the plans are with the building authority, and you are waiting for the approval? Just ask them how long it takes to get the approval. Then you will also receive the documents.

What was “weird” about the communication?
Does he not have an office with a doorbell?