The estimated cost of building the planned Holocaust Memorial next to Parliament has risen by almost £30 million in the past year.
In a written statement last week, Housing Minister Felicity Buchan said the total projected cost of the project, excluding contingency, had risen from £102.9m in March 2022 to £138.8m pounds in March this year.
This was largely down to a 46 per cent rise in construction costs from £62.3m to £91.3m.
The second reading of the Holocaust Memorial Bill took place in the House of Commons last week. The Prime Minister promised the law in January to remove a legal obstacle to building the memorial.
Planning consent for a new memorial and learning center in Westminster’s Victoria Tower Gardens had been granted in July 2021 following a public inquiry. But the High Court overturned the decision in April 2022, due to historic legislation requiring the location to be maintained as a public garden.
In his statement, Buchan said the estimates had increased due to “programme delays resulting from the High Court challenge, together with the effects of construction price inflation”.
He added that construction costs “have increased primarily due to inflation resulting from both higher-than-expected construction inflation in [outline business case] i [full business case] as well as delays in the program”.
Charitable donations are expected to cover “at least £25 million” of the costs. The government has previously said it will provide up to £75m.
Turner & Townsend is the lead project and cost manager for the program, while WSP advises on mechanical and electrical support. The architects are Adjaye Associates, Ron Arad Associates and Gustafson Porter + Bowman.
Buchan said the memorial “will help the whole nation to reflect on the significance of the Holocaust and the lessons it holds for us today”.
The venue will be free for visitors, with scheduled tickets. In January, the government said “careful design” meant it would improve the gardens, ensuring they continued to provide an important public amenity.
The decision to build the memorial was announced in January 2016. A planning application was submitted in December 2018 but was initially refused by Westminster Council.
