Recommendation 4

The Programme is also dependent on several factors outside the Sponsor Body’s control. The parliamentary estates team is currently responsible for the refurbishment of parliament’s Northern Estate, which includes the planned Commons decant chamber at Richmond House. No decision has been made on whether some, all or none of the Northern Estate programme will come under the remit of the Sponsor Body. Although we were told no decision had been taken, on 21 September, the House of Commons Commission announced that Richmond House would be used as accommodation for Members.1 Our previous examinations of large government programmes, such as Crossrail, have demonstrated the importance of managing the interdependencies between intersecting projects, and the risks in terms of delay and expense when this is not done effectively. While the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) has no formal role in scrutinising the Programme under the Act, we welcome the decision of the Sponsor Body to engage with the IPA to draw on its experience of large complex projects with interdependencies. We are keen that the Sponsor Body continues proactively to seek the IPA’s advice on the Programme. Recommendation: The Sponsor Body should, within three months, write to us to: • Provide us with details on the interdependencies with the Northern Estate Programme and identify projects which are critical to R&R that should be brought under the Sponsor Body’s control. • Report back to us with details of its arrangements with the Infrastructure and Projects Authority to provide Programme assurance.