Essential refurbishment of Northern Estate
12 August 2014
On 14 July 2014 the House of Commons Commission agreed in principle to proceed with the essential refurbishment of the buildings on the Northern Estate.
Three listed buildings on the Northern Estate are overdue for major refurbishment:
- Norman Shaw North (Grade I)
- 1 Parliament Street (Grade II)
- 1 Derby Gate (Grade II*)
The programme is also likely to include some works on Norman Shaw South (Grade II*) The House of Commons has a legal obligation to protect these buildings and maintain their architectural and historical significance.
The buildings, built between 1864 and 1906, currently provide office accommodation to over 950 pass holders. While maintenance work has been ongoing, they have not had major refurbishments carried out in over twenty years. The refurbishment will: reduce the risk of building failure; improve fire safety and environmental performance; improve disability access between buildings; and increase and improve accommodation space, addressing issues with heating, ventilation and plumbing.
Plans are currently being developed to manage this essential work responsibly and all possible options are being considered. A final decision on the form the refurbishment will take has yet to be made. The programme is not expected to begin until 2017.