Lords House Committee agree to comission detailed study of options for regeneration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster

The House of Lords House Committee yesterday agreed to publish a Study Group report (pdf 1.2MB) (pdf 1.2MB) (pdf 1.2MB) (pdf 1.2MB) on options to undertake the essential refurbishment of the Palace of Westminster, including a possible temporary relocation of Parliament. 

The House Committee also decided to ask officials to proceed to commission a fully costed appraisal of all the options that retain the Palace of Westminster as the long-term home of Parliament and as an iconic building for the nation.  They ruled out the idea of a new permanent Parliamentary building elsewhere.

The Committee welcomed the thorough and comprehensive report of the Study Group and noted that there has never previously been a general refurbishment of the Palace since it was opened in the 1850s. 

Details of the Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal project including a Q&A and a timeline of previous changes to the Palace of Westminster can be found online at a new area of the parliament website.

Following the House Committee's decision, Lord Sewel, Chairman of Committees, made a Written Ministerial Statement to the House.