Rasen and Caistor MP praises Palace renovation rethink

Sir Edward Leigh MP has welcomed the news that the current plans for the restoration of the Palace of Westminster are to be reviewed. Planning applications currently being considered would involve the demolition of a Grade II*-listed building on the parliamentary estate that is in perfectly usable working condition – plans which have been condemned by architects, preservationists, and environmental consultants.

“The Palace of Westminster is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the working home of our parliamentary democracy,” Sir Edward said. “We are obliged to restore and maintain it for future generations.”

“Unfortunately, the current plans were needlessly wasteful, assaulted our country’s legacy for historic preservation, and were environmentally unsound.

“Working with SAVE Britain’s Heritage, we have discovered that there are feasible plans which could save the taxpayer at least half a billion pounds while still allowing us to do the job properly.”

Sir Edward said that as the country is suffering from the ongoing economic impact of the coronavirus “it is unconscionable to needlessly spend hundreds of millions of pounds when we can achieve better results, more quickly, and for much less money.”

He continued: “I have spent years campaigning on the restoration of the Palace and I remain very hopeful that the sponsor body will endorse a plan that respects our architectural heritage, is environmentally sensible, and is a much better deal for the taxpayer.”