Commons visitor centre bill soars to £12m

The cost of a new visitor centre for the Houses of Parliament has ballooned to nearly £12 million, the Standard has learned.

The project, which is also 18 months late, will cost more than double its original £5 million estimate.

The visitor reception building is meant to provide the public with a modern gateway to the Commons.

It consists of a bomb-proof building set apart from Westminster Hall but within the walls of the Parliamentary estate.

Replacing the traditionalitional St Stephen's entrance for the public, it will be used to screen visitors for weapons and for bag searches.

The project was intended to boost the "visitor experience" and is seen as a way of combating voter apathy.

But MPs are furious that poor management appears to have dogged the work. The bill went up from £5 million to £8.5 million but today the House of Commons Commission was set to reveal that the final cost stands at about £11.5 million. The building was set to open in "late 2006" but will not be ready until New Year 2008.

Former Ministry of Defence permanent Secretary Sir Kevin Tebbit reported earlier this year on the need to overhaul the way Parliament manages similar projects.

With billions more set to be spent on a refurbishment of the Palace of Westminster, including a new roof, it was decided that a full-time project manager should be created. Previously, it was the responsibility of the Sergeant at Arms.