In February, the NFB’s Heritage Committee was invited by UK Parliament’s Restoration and Renewal Programme to visit the Palace of Westminster. The Palace of Westminster is an internationally recognised symbol of the UK and democracy, and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Extensive, complex work is needed to restore the Palace. The Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act was passed in 2019 to establish the Restoration and Renewal (R&R) Programme.

The R&R Programme is responsible for carrying out essential restoration work on one of the world’s most iconic buildings, and is expected to bring costed proposals for the work to both Houses of Parliament later this year. 

Restoring and renewing the Palace will directly benefit the one million people who visit every year and the thousands who work there every day including MPs and Peers, by delivering a greatly improved building, with better accessibility, more reliable services and enhanced health and safety.

The NFB Heritage Committee alongside NFB staff Sean Houlston and Jackie Stephen

The Programme will support jobs across the UK and presents an opportunity to showcase the UK’s rich cultural heritage, democratic traditions and skilled workers to a global audience. It is hoped that NFB members – many of whom hold the Heritage Approved Contractor Mark – will have the opportunity to contribute to this historic project. The Heritage Mark is awarded exclusively to NFB members who meet strict qualifying criteria, demonstrating their expertise in heritage restoration.

During their visit, the Heritage Committee was given a guided tour.  Attendance from the team at our upcoming Heritage and Traditional Build Conference in September will give NFB members an opportunity to engage with the Programme. 

The Heritage Committee found the visit highly insightful and, as experienced builders, had many questions on the Programme regarding the schedule of works, skills development, and the procurement process.

“It was a fantastic and insightful day,” was the general consensus from the Heritage Committee. We look forward to a potential return visit later in the year to address key discussions raised during the tour.