A report, prepared by the Design Team (EMBT/RMJM) and issued by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) also informs Members of the SPCB’s plans for the renovation of Queensberry House.

The Parliament’s Presiding Officer Sir David Steel, who also chairs the SPCB, said the Design Team had worked hard over the summer to prepare the revised plans for the Chamber and to firm up on the proposals for Queensberry House.

Sir David said:

"Along with the other members of the SPCB, I am very pleased with the revised ‘ellipse’ layout of the Holyrood Chamber. The Design Team of EMBT/RMJM have produced a layout which is modern, flexible and accessible and will satisfy the operational needs of the Parliament.

"We feel that the layout meets the objective of creating a non-confrontational chamber but maintaining sight lines to allow for constructive and lively debates.

"The Design Team have taken on board the views and concerns expressed by some MSPs when the initial layout of the chamber was presented to them back in June prior to the debate on the Holyrood Project.

"To help further progress and inform the layout of the new chamber, some members of the SPCB and the Design Team visited the Dutch and Flanders Parliaments in July.

"Since then, the Design Team have made presentations to the SPCB on three separate occasions, each time refining the layout to meet specific issues.

"The key point is that the revised arrangements have been incorporated within the original ‘footprint’ of the building."

The Design Team will now turn their attention to the interior design of the Chamber focussing on specific details such as fittings, furniture design, furnishings and colour. The SPCB is committed to keeping Members fully informed of progress on these matters.

Queensberry House

Information is also given in the report to the background and proposals for Queensberry House, the Category A listed building on the site of the new Parliamentary complex.

In August, the Design Team presented their proposals for Queensberry House to the SPCB on two occasions, the latter in the presence of the Chairman and Secretary of the Royal Fine Art Commission for Scotland.

To help inform the design proposals, Mr John Hume, consultant to the Holyrood Project Team and former Chief Inspector of Historic Scotland has prepared an interim report, in consultation with the Design Team, on the history of Queensberry House and the proposals for this building.

A copy of John Hume’s Interim Report to the SPCB has been placed in the Parliament’s library. A copy of the final report will also be lodged in the library when it is available.

Following approval of the City of Edinburgh Council’s Planning Committee on 15 September 1999 of the Notice of Proposed Development (Reserved Matters) the Design Team will continue to work with the Council on how ongoing archaeological investigations will inform the treatment of Queensberry House.

The SPCB have also taken on board the concern of Members about the level of car parking provision at Holyrood and have asked the Holyrood Project Team to survey Members of their intended use of cars and their car parking requirements. In light of this survey it is likely that some spaces could be used for storage, thereby reducing the number of parking spaces required providing there was future flexibility.

BACKGROUND NOTES