Who will Re-build the Houses of Partliment ??
Ian Hodgkinson
Project Manager for DIYSOS, Consultant, Housing, Building, Property, Developing, Brickwork,
Palace of Westminster: Restoration and Renewal
In the news this week is the cost and finance to restore the Palace of Westminster. What a fabulous building. It Does make you think how did the tradesmen build the Palace all those years ago, truly a magnificent building and engineering feat.
If the Palace of Westminster and the Houses of Parliment are to be renovated it is not only cost that has to be considered, which is estimated between ￡4-5 billion pounds, it is who is going to carry out all the work. A Build project like this would require an army of builders and particularly stonemasons, the big question is where will these specialist tradesmen come from??
I took some of my tradesmen and apprentices to Westminster last year to hi-light the issues the UK Building has with the shortages of skilled labour. On the day we met up with the likes of Jeremy Corbyn Labour Leader, Nick Boles Apprentice Minster, Brendan Lewis then the Housing Minister. The event was hosted by Amanda Solloway Mp for North Derby.
The Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal Programme has been established to tackle the significant work that needs to be done to protect and preserve the heritage of the Palace of Westminster and ensure it can continue to serve as home to the UK Parliament in the 21st century and beyond.The 1,100-room Palace dates from the mid-1800s and is now one of the most iconic and significant buildings in the world. The previous building was devastated by fire in 1834 but the oldest part of the Parliamentary Estate, Westminster Hall, built in 1099, survived and is still in use today. The Palace is now a Grade I listed building and, with Westminster Abbey and St Margaret’s Church, forms part of the UNESCO Westminster World Heritage Site.
Joint Committee on the Palace of Westminster
A Joint Select Committee on the Palace of Westminster was appointed in July 2015 to consider an independent options appraisal and make recommendations on a preferred way forward for the restoration and renewal of the building. The Joint Committee published its recommendations on 8 September 2016. Both Houses will now need to consider the main recommendations of the Committee report and agree on a preferred way forward. Find out more about the Joint Committee on the UK Parliament website.
From Ian Hodgkinson iPhone 07860513298
Twitter; @hodgkinsonbuild
Master Stone Carver | Director London Stone Carving Ltd
7 年The most exciting carving project imaginable. The London Stone Carving team hope to play our part in this incredible and historic restoration.
Associate Director at Turner & Townsend
7 年This is afantastic Landmark project that requires the best in the industry to work together collaboratively to ensure this project is delivered on time , with quality and on budget. At Cliveden Conservation we hope to contribute to a successful project outcome
Master Stone carver/sculptor & teacher. Director at London Stone Carving.
7 年Myself and the London Stone Carving team are looking for a way into this dream project. We have the know how, just not quite the know who.... Yet.
stonemason site manager on Historic Buildings
7 年not many properly trained people about, I think they would need to find older masons with proper skills and experience to train a new work force. probably nvq qualified people willing to start again. and learn properly
International Risk Management Advisor
7 年Might this project be big enough and of sufficient time scale, Ian, to train its own masons? Perhaps the question is how we employ them when the project is complete