Shock as parliament announces plans for up to £31m renovation … of a single roof_L
EXCLUSIVE: Revamp bid slammed as needlessly expensive amid increased scrutiny of government waste
A bid for an up to £31million renovation of a single roof above the House of Lords has been slammed.
Parliament has invited companies to bid for the roofing contract, which could cost anywhere between £21-31million.
The major renovation work will take place on the roof above the House of Lords chamber and include the replacement and refurbishment of the entire cast iron roofing tiles.
It is the largest single cast iron roof at the Palace of Westminster, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and was last overhauled in 1996.
A survey in 2021 found that the roof is continuing to deteriorate, with many of the 5,000 individual cast iron tiles in dire need of replacement.
While the parliamentary authorities say the work will take approximately three and a half years, these projects often run over time and cost more than originally earmarked.
The work will take place as part of the wider restoration and renewal programme, as lawmakers and those in charge debate how best to ensure Parliament avoids a Notre Dame-style tragedy.
Jason Brown, who runs The Waste Files project highlighting government inefficiency and who uncovered the contract, told the Daily Express: “There is no doubt the Houses of Parliament is in urgent need of repairs, but the piecemeal approach taken because MP and peers cannot agree on a restoration and renewal plan will only lead to even higher costs, costs that are ultimately footed by the taxpayer.”
“Notre Dame shows what can be done. When fire ripped through the cathedral, nobody thought it would be rebuilt in just six years and cost €850million.
“Maybe on this occasion, we should take our lead from the French.”
There are three different options for restoring the Houses of Parliament to its former glory and dealing with the myriad work hazards at the palace.
MPs are continuing to debate whether they should fully decant from the palace to allow the work to progress faster.
So far, the restoration works have cost over £280million since 2021. However, recent estimates suggest the overall project could cost a whopping £22billion and take 76 years.
In February last year, the Express revealed taxpayers had forked out over £250,000 to prevent glass roof tiles falling on MPs.
