SAVE Britain’s Heritage {Alliance member] has condemned Government plans to demolish a historic building on Whitehall as “state sponsored vandalism of the first order”. Richmond House, the former department of health HQ in central London is set to be flattened, apart from the front facade, to make way for a temporary House of Commons under plans unveiled today by the Restoration and Renewal Programme. The temporary chamber would be used for just 7-8 years, while the neighbouring Palace of Westminster is refurbished.
Demolishing this fine, high quality building for a temporary chamber is a very expensive decision – estimated by Government to be at least £300-£400 million. Yet there are other options, such as the large internal courtyards of both the Foreign Office and HM Treasury, the atrium of Portcullis House or the recently unveiled Norman Foster scheme proposing new chambers for MPs and Lords on Horse Guards Parade. SAVE has repeatedly asked to see the analysis and costs of alternative sites for the chamber on the parliamentary estate that have been considered in this decision making process. This information has not been forthcoming.