Building works expected to cost £500m and take four years to complete

Westminster

Parliament has begun the search for a contractor to carry out its £500m Northern Estate programme which involves revamping a series of buildings containing MPs’ offices in Westminster.

Firms have until early August to express interest in the role, known as the Main Works Contracting Partner, with the winning team likely to be asked to work on the initial phases of restoring the Palace of Westminster as well.

The Northern Estates portfolio of buildings includes the grade I listed Norman Shaw North and grade II listed Norman Shaw South buildings – both of which are now over 100 years old – along with 1 Derby Gate and 1 Parliament Street, a pair of grade II listed adjoining buildings dating from the 1880s, and Canon Row residences.

The work on the Northern Estates will include overhauling the M&E services, as well as restoring the fabric of the listed structures. The buildings have not had major refurbishments for over 40 years and Parliament considers repairs now to be “essential”.

Work is expected to take up to four years and Parliament is hoping the revamp will cut carbon emissions by 34% and water consumption by half by 2020/21.

In May, Building revealed that a number of firms are chasing the project and cost management role on Northern Estate including a joint venture between Mace and Aecom, a team featuring Lendlease and Sweett, now set to be bought by Currie & Brown, and Arcadis and Turner & Townsend which are both bidding for the role separately.