Framework

The Wates Group has been appointed framework contractor for the renovation of a number of buildings on Parliament’s Northern Estate.

The essential refurbishment will help restore and protect a number of Parliament’s listed heritage buildings in Westminster including Norman Shaw North and South, 1 Parliament Street and 1 Derby Gate, ensuring they are safe, accessible and efficient for future generations. The Programme will also help ensure suitable spaces and facilities for the House of Commons to temporarily move out of the Palace of Westminster while it undergoes a multi-year programme of restoration and renewal in the mid-2020s.

The buildings, built between 1864 and 1906, currently provide office accommodation to over 950 people, but many have had no significant investment for many years.

The work on site – which is expected to start in 2019 – will also increase the amount and standard of office space, delivering an estate with reduced running costs, increased environmental performance and improved safety and accessibility.

Commitments

• The creation of more than 160 apprenticeships, along with support for schools and colleges
• A new nationwide programme to train a new generation of heritage craftspeople such as stonemasons, traditional plasterers and joiners, who will be essential to delivering the programme successfully
• A commitment to invest £1 million in Social Enterprises, giving them access to the project and providing a significant long-term boost for the sector
• A commitment to put smaller businesses at the heart of this major heritage project, with a large proportion of Wates’ supply chain being made up of SMEs
• ‘Meet the buyer’ events to be held all over the country giving potential suppliers an opportunity to meet with Wates and be involved in the Northern Estate Programme.