Recommendation 26

We have previously seen the importance of getting senior political stakeholders on side. We reported that in February 2021, upon considering findings from a strategic review, the Commissions agreed the Sponsor Body could spend up to £5 million to carry out further work to fully understand the costs, time and other implications of restoration and renewal works being undertaken while a presence was maintained in the Palace. Parliament had previously endorsed legislation requiring Parliament to decant during the works, which was set out in the legislation in 2019.61 In February 2022, one week after they had received the provisional cost and schedule estimates requested, the House of Commons Commission proposed significant changes to the Programme, endorsed by the House of Lords Commission. The Delivery Authority told us that, as a result, it paused developing the business case. In May 2022, the Clerks told us that they had written to the Sponsor Body asking them to undertake only options-neutral work which would add value regardless of what future option is chosen.62