Houses of Parliament Restoration Seeks Views on Programme

INTERESTED PARTIES are being invited to submit their views on the plans for renovating the Houses of Parliament.

The Palace of Westminster, home of Parliament, is falling apart faster than it can be repaired. The longer the essential work is left, the greater the risk of a catastrophic failure from fire, flooding or falling stonework.

The project to save the Houses of Parliament for future generations is expected to support thousands of jobs and training opportunities across the country.

Decanting Parliament

A review into the work is being led by Sarah Johnson, head of the Sponsor Body overseeing the work, and David Goldstone, Delivery Authority CEO. Their team will assess whether a recommendation made in a report four years ago that all MPs and Lords should leave the Palace of Westminster while the work was carried out – ‘decanting’ – is still the “best and most cost-effective” option.

The review team will examine the evidence available to those who produced the report. It will consider any new findings, alongside information received from parliamentarians, interested organisations and the public. The Restoration and Renewal Programme wants to ensure value for money for the taxpayer.

The review will make a series of recommendations to Parliamentary authorities in the autumn.

As plans develop, there will be more chances for the public, parliamentarians, and others to offer their views to the Restoration and Renewal Programme.

Sarah Johnson, CEO of the Sponsor Body, said, “As we review plans for the most complex heritage restoration ever delivered in the UK, it is right that Members and other interested parties should have an opportunity to put forward views for consideration.”

“We want to ensure the plan offers best value for money and takes account of changes in external circumstances, such as the impact of the current health crisis.”

Urgent restoration need

The Houses of Parliament urgently need restoring. According to the National Audit Office, Parliament has spent more than £369m on maintenance since 2016 and there is an increasing backlog of repairs estimated at over £1 billion.

All the fire, heating, drainage, mechanical and electrical systems need replacing. Steam pipes run alongside electrical cables, and the sewage ejector system installed in 1888 is still in use today. Since the start of 2017 over 40,000 problems have been reported in the Palace.

The Restoration and Renewal Programme is expected to create employment and training opportunities in construction, engineering, design, and IT, as well as specialist skills in carpentry, stonemasonry, metalwork, and heritage conservation.

Submissions to the review of the Restoration and Renewal Programme must be received by 7 August.

More information can be found on the Restoration and Renewal Programme website.