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Big bill for Big Ben: cost of renovating Elizabeth Tower rises to £61m Big bill for Big Ben: cost of renovating Elizabeth Tower rises to £61m
(35 minutes later)
The cost of renovating the tower that houses Big Ben has more than doubled in 16 months, provoking an angry response from MPs.The cost of renovating the tower that houses Big Ben has more than doubled in 16 months, provoking an angry response from MPs.
In a statement released late on Friday, the parliamentary authorities said the estimate for the work on the Elizabeth Tower had risen from an estimated £29m in the spring of 2016 to £61m. The additional cost emerged after discovering that the project is more complex and extensive than originally thought, the authorities said. In a statement released late on Friday, the parliamentary authorities said the estimate for the work on the Elizabeth Tower had risen from an estimated £29m in the spring of 2016, to £61m. The additional cost emerged after the project was found to be more complex and extensive than originally thought, the authorities said.
It follows a previous row over the renovation this summer for silencing the bongs of Big Ben, the name of the 13-tonne bell inside the tower, for four years. It follows a row this summer over how the renovation would silence the bongs of Big Ben, the name of the 13-tonne bell inside the tower, and its four accompanying quarter bells for four years.
The cost increase has provoked concern from MPs. Caroline Flint, the Labour MP and a member of the public accounts committee parliamentary spending watchdog, said the National Audit Office should launch an inquiry into the project. “For any cost like this to more than double within a short period suggests we need more rigorous scrutiny, week by week. It is an ominous beginning and worth the NAO taking another look,” she said. Caroline Flint, the Labour MP and a member of the public accounts committee, said on Friday the National Audit Office should launch an inquiry into the project.
Peter Bone, the Conservative MP who campaigned against the four-year silencing of the bells, said the rise in spending was extraordinary. “I am flabbergasted. If you were building your house and the builders said it would cost £29,000 and a few months later they said ‘it is now £61,000,’ you would have every right to be angry. I hope the authorities are looking at the cost control of this project,” he said. “For any cost like this to more than double within a short period suggests we need more rigorous scrutiny, week by week. It is an ominous beginning and worth the NAO taking another look,” she said.
The House of Commons and House of Lords commissions have been told that the increase in costs is due to a better understanding of the complexity of the work needed to restore the tower. It follows further examination of stonework around the tower, the complexity of stripping and repainting metalwork within the tower and further examination of the ground conditions. Peter Bone, the Conservative MP who campaigned against the silencing of Big Ben, said the rise in spending was extraordinary.
“I am flabbergasted. If you were building your house and the builders said it would cost £29,000 and a few months later they said ‘it is now £61,000’, you would have every right to be angry. I hope the authorities are looking at the cost control of this project,” he said.
The House of Commons and House of Lords commissions have been told the increase in costs is due to a better understanding of the complexity of the work needed to restore the tower. It follows further examination of stonework around the tower, the complexity of stripping and repainting metalwork within the tower and further examination of the ground conditions.
A spokeswoman for the House of Commons said: “The commissions expressed their disappointment in the cost increases, and the unreliability of the original estimate. They instructed officials to provide regular updates on progress and costs to the relevant domestic committees so they can keep the commissions fully informed of the project. They also reiterated their commitment to preserve the Elizabeth Tower and Great Clock for future generations.”A spokeswoman for the House of Commons said: “The commissions expressed their disappointment in the cost increases, and the unreliability of the original estimate. They instructed officials to provide regular updates on progress and costs to the relevant domestic committees so they can keep the commissions fully informed of the project. They also reiterated their commitment to preserve the Elizabeth Tower and Great Clock for future generations.”
In a joint statement the clerk of the House of Commons, the clerk of the parliaments and the director general of the House of Commons, said: “We acknowledge that there have been estimating failures and we understand the concern of the commissions. In advance of tendering contracts, the initial high-level estimates were set at a lower level to avoid cost escalation from the market. Subsequent estimates, using better data and more extensive surveys, better reflect the true likelihood of the costs.”In a joint statement the clerk of the House of Commons, the clerk of the parliaments and the director general of the House of Commons, said: “We acknowledge that there have been estimating failures and we understand the concern of the commissions. In advance of tendering contracts, the initial high-level estimates were set at a lower level to avoid cost escalation from the market. Subsequent estimates, using better data and more extensive surveys, better reflect the true likelihood of the costs.”
The clock is to be dismantled piece-by-piece, with each cog examined and restored, the glass repaired, and the hands removed and refurbished. Though the clock’s mechanism will also be dismantled, at least one clock face will continue to operate via a temporary modern electric system, but scaffolding will cover three of the four clock faces by the end of October. The clock is to be dismantled piece-by-piece, with each cog examined and restored, the glass repaired, and the hands removed and refurbished. Though the clock’s mechanism will also be dismantled, at least one clock face will continue to operate via a temporary modern electric system, but scaffolding will cover three of the four faces by the end of October.
The repair effort caused controversy when it was announced that Big Ben would only chime on special occasions over the next four years while the works were being carried out. The bells will only chime on special occasions over the next four years while the work is carried out.