Restoration and Renewal
The Restoration and Renewal (R&R) Programme refers to the programme of refurbishment for the Palace of Westminster and was originallly established in 2013 by both of the Houses of Parliament. It was formalised with the passing of the Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act 2019 and underwent significant governance restructuring, with a new R&R Programme Board taking over in February 2023., which continued to be responsible for planning and carrying out the extensive work to refurbish the Palace of Westminster, home of the House of Commons and House of Lords.
A destination for more than a million visitors every year, it is also Ithe place of work for thousands of people and the heart of the UK and specifically England's centuries-old democracy. Most of the building dates from the Victorian era and some parts are significantly older. Over the decades, its fabric and its services have deteriorated and are increasingly in need of substantial repair or replacement. The Restoration and Renewal (R&R) Programme was established to deliver this work.
The R&R Programme says it will:
- Restore the iconic home of Parliament while ensuring value for money and supporting thousands of jobs and businesses across the UK.
- Preserve the Palace as an internationally recognised symbol of the UK and the home of Parliament for future generations.
- Directly benefit the thousands of staff who work here and one million people who visit each year, by improving accessibility, fire safety, reliability and efficiency of services, security, visitor access, and health and safety.
Background
- 2026: Delivering restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster: the costed proposals published.
- 2023: A new two-tier governance structure (Client Board and Program Board) was established, with the Programme Board meeting for the first time in February 2023.
- 2022: Governance restructuring announced to replace the initial sponsor body.
- 2019: The Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act 2019 received Royal Assent.
- 2016: Joint Committee report recommended a full decant
- 2015: Independent Options Appraisal published.
- 2013: Initial establishment of the programme.
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