Duplicate chamber unveiled for £6bn Westminster revamp
The first images of a planned £1.5 billion Westminster decant have been revealed.
Parliament authorities plan to temporarily shift the House of Commons debating chamber and MPS’ offices into nearby buildings to allow the £6bn renovation of the historic Palace of Westminster to take place, backed by new legislation being introduced on Wednesday.
“A few weeks ago we saw water pouring through the ceiling of the chamber and the sitting had to be suspended,” said Restoration and Renewal Programme director Tom H ea ley.“The building is basically deteriorating more quickly than we than we can repair it … at the moment we just can’t keep up with it.”
Round-the-clock fire safety patrols are already in operation in Westminster to pro - tect the historic Palace from the risk posed by its antiquated wiring and gas pipes.
Liz Peace, chairwoman of the Restoration and Renewal Programme board, said she would do “everything humanly possible” to prevent a tragedy like those seen at Notre Dame.
However, some MPs are unhappy at being moved out, with Tor y Sir Edward Leigh asking Theresa May at PMQS for reassurances that the huge undertaking would not see “a replica of the House of Commons where MPS may be parked for many years”.