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Parliamentary News Release

064/2003

Thursday 23 October 2003
 

CORPORATE BODY PUBLISHES OCTOBER’S HOLYROOD REPORT TO FINANCE COMMITTEE

 

Presiding Officer George Reid today gave Parliament’s Finance Committee the latest information on the Holyrood project, which shows the programme on target and the costs unchanged from last month.

Cost

Our cost consultants report no change to the overall cost of the project. Since the September report, £2.4m has been moved from the risk register into construction commitment, largely associated with prolongation of services packages.

Future programme

The project remains on target for the overall programme to completion. Further details of this programme are available below in the background information.

Progress on site

  • Most scaffolding has now been removed from the east and west façades of MSP offices. Carpet is now being laid on level 5, and is ready to be laid on levels 3 and 4.
  • With the installation of garden level windows in the MSP block, all glazing on the east and west facades is complete.
  • Forty-three MSPs have now been on site to view their accommodation since May’s election. These visits will help to inform discussions about the allocation of space at Holyrood, and the configuration of offices.
  • Flooring and other fit-out works are now taking place across the top three floors of Queensberry House.
  • Timber screens have been fitted throughout all the general office areas in the Towers and are complete in the stair wells.
  • Scaffolding to Tower 1 has now been removed in the area around the South Lightwell. Scaffolding for Towers 3 & 4 has also started to be taken down, allowing increased access to the key North Lightwell area, where glazing has now gone in.
  • All glass has now been installed for the extensive rooflights to the Debating Chamber.
  • The first Caithness stone flooring has been laid for the public entrance below the Chamber.
  • Setts and kerbs have been laid in Horse Wynd.

Additional information on all the latest developments on site plus this month’s construction pictures are available in Annex B to the Presiding Officer’s letter.

Presiding Officer George Reid said:

“This report provides a detailed assessment of the latest work being carried out at Holyrood. It shows steady progress being made in all areas over the past month.

“As the scaffolding comes down and the windows go in, a remarkable parliamentary campus is beginning to emerge.

“My objective remains to get into a building of the highest quality, at the lowest possible price, at the earliest possible date.”

Target Deadlines

  • MSP offices and Queensberry House: completion by end of November 2003.
  • Towers 1 & 2: by end January 2004.
  • Towers 3 & 4: by end February 2004. The Chamber, the Press Tower and the Canongate Building: by end March 2004.
  • Final handover of the complex: July 2004.
  • Landscaping: by end August 2004.

Parliamentary business at Holyrood is then expected to start after the summer recess in September 2004.
 

For further information the media contact is:

James Mackenzie: 0131 348 5605
email: james.mackenzie@scottish.parliament.uk
Out of hours: 07699 717177

For public information enquiries, contact: 0131 34 85000

For general enquiries, contact: 0845 278 1999 (local call rate)
Text phone: 0131 348 3415 RNID Typetalk calls welcome on 018001
email: sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk
Visit our website at: www.scottish.parliament.uk

 
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