The Commons approved a motion calling for a “full and timely decant”, designed to allow essential repairs, by 236 votes to 220. The planned move, part of a proposed £5.6bn modernisation, will not take effect until 2025 at the earliest.
During the debate Lord Inglewood, Conservative, president of the Ancient Monuments Society [Alliance member] noted the Historic Houses Associations research revealing a backlog of around £1.5 billion-worth of repairs on its members’ buildings of which about half a billion pounds’ worth is for urgent repairs. Lord Inglewood went on to highlight the Heritage Alliance’s concerns over the tax treatment of the repair and maintenance of historic buildings and called on the Government to investigate the problem and find the right way for the nation to look after buildings of this quality in the future.
Baroness Evans of Bowes Park, Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal noted that the programme will require a large, highly skilled workforce with both traditional and modern skills. The programme team has already been in contact with Crossrail, the Building Crafts College and others to discuss how they might establish an effective apprenticeship programme to encourage and make use of it as part of the renewal of this building.
She went on to state that the Government understands the importance of archaeological access during the programme as the remains of the old Palace still lie under Speaker’s Court and Old Palace Yard. ‘The Palace is part of our national heritage, a major tourist attraction and a cherished part of the fabric of this country, so it is right that we make sure we do what is needed to restore and renew it’.