The Restoration and Renewal Programme has been established to tackle the significant work that needs to be done to protect the heritage of the Palace of Westminster and ensure it can continue to serve as home to the British Parliament in the 21st century and beyond.
The Palace is a Grade I listed building and forms part of the Westminster UNESCO World Heritage Site. I believe it is essential that significant restoration work is undertaken to ensure major, irreversible deterioration does not continue and to make it a suitable working environment for the thousands of people who are employed there. Basics such as plumbing, electricity and fireproofing have not been properly overhauled since it was built.
As part of this programme, the House of Commons Commission and the House of Lords House Committee commissioned a comprehensive, independent assessment of a range of costed options, called an Independent Options Appraisal (IOA) for the restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster. The Appraisal was published in June 2015 and is available on the Parliament website at www.restorationandrenewal.parliament.uk.
The work will be a major challenge in the coming years and is certain to be a matter of public interest. The Joint Committee on the Palace of Westminster was established in July 2015. It is considering evidence from a wide range of experts, Parliamentarians and stakeholders and will report in due course.
By Patrick McLoughlin on September 16, 2016