Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the cost of excavation in Victoria Tower Gardens to create space for the proposed Learning Centre associated with the Holocaust Memorial; and what savings in costs would be made if the Learning Centre were located in an existing building in the area.
Answered by Baroness Swinburne
Cost estimates for excavation at the chosen site are commercially sensitive and not suitable for publication at this time. No estimates have been made for locating the Learning Centre at a hypothetical site.
Information about the Learning Centre's content was presented at the public inquiry and is available on the Westminster City Council website: westminster.gov.uk/sites/default/files/cd_8.9_proof_of_evidence_of_stephen_greenberg_1.pdf .
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Scott of Bybrook on 28 June forecasting the cost for completion of the proposed Holocaust Memorial in Victoria Tower Gardens as £138.8 million (HLWS875), what estimate they have made of the cost at the likely date of completion, whether they will require the charitable contribution to rise to meet the original one-third of the cost, what undertakings they have received so far about charitable contributions, and what plans they have for continuing to fund Holocaust education.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Our estimate of costs at the likely date of completion and our current estimate of charitable donations are set out in the Written Ministerial Statement.
The Government is committed to continuing to support and fund Holocaust education. The Department for Education (DfE) has provided over £5.9 million since 2021 to support the Holocaust Educational Trust with their Lessons from Auschwitz programme, with additional funding of £500,000 from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to extend the programme to students in Higher Education; in the same period DfE has provided £1.5 million to the UCL Institute of Education’s Centre for Holocaust Education.
In addition DLUHC has supported a broad range of activities across the country aimed at increasing understanding of the Holocaust and its impact on different communities. Recent projects include:
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Scott of Bybrook on 22 June (HL Deb col 329) concerning the proposed Holocaust memorial, whether they will clarify what was meant by the statement that "The view of Parliament from the memorial will serve as a permanent reminder that political decisions have far-reaching consequences".
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Detailed information on the proposed Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre published as part of the planning application includes an assessment of the significance of the chosen location (see especially the proof of evidence of the UK Holocaust Memorial co-chairs (document cd 8.1) and the assessment of alternative sites (see environmental statement volume 2 revised chapter 4 (cd 6.49)). The information remains available on Westminster City Council’s website.
In addition to the planning application information, the answers I provided on 12 April 2023 (HL6914) and 5 May (HL7432) provide detailed figures on the areas used for the proposed development. For clarity, the figure of approximately 7.5% relates to the total area of Victoria Tower Gardens and the figure of around 85% relates to the area of green space at Victoria Tower Gardens.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Scott of Bybrook on 22 June (HL Deb col 328) that the proposed design for a Holocaust memorial “uses approximately 7.5 per cent of the area of Victoria Tower Gardens”, and the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) on 4 July 2019 (HC270274), which refers to around 85 per cent of green space being retained, whether they will clarify the amount of green space that would be lost; and what assessment they have made of the calculation by the London Historic Parks & Gardens Trust that 29.6 per cent of the green space, excluding the mound, would be lost.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Detailed information on the proposed Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre published as part of the planning application includes an assessment of the significance of the chosen location (see especially the proof of evidence of the UK Holocaust Memorial co-chairs (document cd 8.1) and the assessment of alternative sites (see environmental statement volume 2 revised chapter 4 (cd 6.49)). The information remains available on Westminster City Council’s website.
In addition to the planning application information, the answers I provided on 12 April 2023 (HL6914) and 5 May (HL7432) provide detailed figures on the areas used for the proposed development. For clarity, the figure of approximately 7.5% relates to the total area of Victoria Tower Gardens and the figure of around 85% relates to the area of green space at Victoria Tower Gardens.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Scott of Bybrook on 22 June (HL Deb col 328), in relation to the consideration of alternative sites for a Holocaust memorial, that “all that work was done many years ago”, whether they intend to publish their assessment of sites alternative to Victoria Tower Gardens.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Detailed information on the proposed Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre published as part of the planning application includes an assessment of the significance of the chosen location (see especially the proof of evidence of the UK Holocaust Memorial co-chairs (document cd 8.1) and the assessment of alternative sites (see environmental statement volume 2 revised chapter 4 (cd 6.49)). The information remains available on Westminster City Council’s website.
In addition to the planning application information, the answers I provided on 12 April 2023 (HL6914) and 5 May (HL7432) provide detailed figures on the areas used for the proposed development. For clarity, the figure of approximately 7.5% relates to the total area of Victoria Tower Gardens and the figure of around 85% relates to the area of green space at Victoria Tower Gardens.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of freedom of information requests received in the past 12 months by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities were withheld in full because of the cost of the response exceeding the limit.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Cabinet Office publishes information on the handling of freedom of information requests on Gov.uk. This published information shows that for 2022 17% of the 867 requests for information received by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities were refused on the grounds of cost.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have (1) for the contents of the Learning Centre to be attached to the UK Holocaust Memorial, and (2) to specify the populations whose genocides are to be commemorated therein.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The main focus of the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre's exhibition content is to ensure that the story of what happened during the unique events of the Holocaust resonates with the public. This will include raising questions about Britain's role at the time. The content will also address genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the written answer by Baroness Scott of Bybrook on 21 April (HL6913) relating to the UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre, whether they will set out the measurement in square metres of each of the items (a) to (g) in item 9 of the table included in that answer.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The measurements for the items in 9) are:
Area to be enclosed to ensure the security of the Centre |
| 1412 m2 |
Of which…. |
|
|
Entrance pavilion | 113 m2 |
|
Courtyard and ramp into the Learning Centre | 1058 m2 |
|
Associated hard standing | 48 m2 |
|
Service access | 4 m2 |
|
Access paths | 53 m2 |
|
The parts of the mound not accessible to the public (fins and ha-ha) | 153 m2 |
|
|
|
|
Service elements of café building |
| 17 m2 |
|
|
|
Total surface area to be occupied by Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre |
| 1429 m2 |
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the size in square metres of (1) the current playground in Victoria Tower Gardens, (2) the intended new playground, (3) the intended new café, and (4) the part of the current playground to be occupied by UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre ticketing and associated works.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Extensive information about the design of the proposed Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre was considered at the Planning Inquiry in October 2020 and remains publicly available on Westminster City Council’s website. The additional detail requested is set out in the table below and to provide further assistance and to illustrate the answers I am placing the three source documents in the Library:
| Question | Answer | Source |
1 | The floor area in square metres of the proposed underground construction of the UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre. | 3258 m2 * (includes 373m2 of unusable spaces such as voids, risers and areas with limited headroom) * all areas are gross internal floor area (GIFA) i.e. excluding external walls. | GIA & Building Area Breakdown Schedule |
2 | Percentage of the underground area that will be used for exhibitions and public space as part of the Learning Centre. | 52.85% Mezzanine Level Lobby (103m2) Learning Centre (349 m2) Basement Level Threshold (314m2) Learning Centre (956 m2) Total = 1722 m2 | GIA and Building Area Breakdown Schedule |
3 | Area in square metres of Victoria Tower Gardens as a whole, that will be enclosed to guarantee security around the UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre in addition to the area occupied by the UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre itself. | Zero as an addition to the 1429 m2 occupied by the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre. | NHM Park Area Diagram rev 2 |
4 | Proportion of (3) | Zero | NHM Park Area Diagram rev 2 |
5 | Size in sqm of the current playground in Victoria Tower Gardens | 1010 m2 | Playground Area Adjustment |
6 | Size in sqm of the intended new playground | 945 m2 | Playground Area Adjustment |
7 | Size in sqm of the intended new café | 15 m2 Café/Kiosk 38 m2 including generator and storage | GIA and Building Area Breakdown Schedule |
8 | Size in sqm of the part of the current playground to be occupied by UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre ticketing and associated works | 23m2 Café/Kiosk generator and storage. Zero occupied by ticketing operations in the Entrance Pavilion. Footfall area 155 m2 | GIA and Building Area Breakdown Schedule Playground Area Adjustment |
9 | Area in square metres of Victoria Tower Gardens as a whole that will be occupied by the intended UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre, including (a) the entrance pavilion, (b) courtyard and ramp into the Learning Centre, (c) associated hard standing, (d) service access, (e) new access paths, (f) the parts of the mound not accessible to the public, and (g) areas to be enclosed to ensure the security of the Centre. | 1429 m2 | NHM Park Area Diagram rev 2 |
10 | Proportion of (9) | 7.58% | NHM Park Area Diagram rev 2 |
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what (1) area in square metres, and (2) proportion of Victoria Tower Gardens as a whole, will be enclosed to guarantee security around the UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre in addition to the area occupied by the UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre itself.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Extensive information about the design of the proposed Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre was considered at the Planning Inquiry in October 2020 and remains publicly available on Westminster City Council’s website. The additional detail requested is set out in the table below and to provide further assistance and to illustrate the answers I am placing the three source documents in the Library:
| Question | Answer | Source |
1 | The floor area in square metres of the proposed underground construction of the UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre. | 3258 m2 * (includes 373m2 of unusable spaces such as voids, risers and areas with limited headroom) * all areas are gross internal floor area (GIFA) i.e. excluding external walls. | GIA & Building Area Breakdown Schedule |
2 | Percentage of the underground area that will be used for exhibitions and public space as part of the Learning Centre. | 52.85% Mezzanine Level Lobby (103m2) Learning Centre (349 m2) Basement Level Threshold (314m2) Learning Centre (956 m2) Total = 1722 m2 | GIA and Building Area Breakdown Schedule |
3 | Area in square metres of Victoria Tower Gardens as a whole, that will be enclosed to guarantee security around the UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre in addition to the area occupied by the UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre itself. | Zero as an addition to the 1429 m2 occupied by the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre. | NHM Park Area Diagram rev 2 |
4 | Proportion of (3) | Zero | NHM Park Area Diagram rev 2 |
5 | Size in sqm of the current playground in Victoria Tower Gardens | 1010 m2 | Playground Area Adjustment |
6 | Size in sqm of the intended new playground | 945 m2 | Playground Area Adjustment |
7 | Size in sqm of the intended new café | 15 m2 Café/Kiosk 38 m2 including generator and storage | GIA and Building Area Breakdown Schedule |
8 | Size in sqm of the part of the current playground to be occupied by UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre ticketing and associated works | 23m2 Café/Kiosk generator and storage. Zero occupied by ticketing operations in the Entrance Pavilion. Footfall area 155 m2 | GIA and Building Area Breakdown Schedule Playground Area Adjustment |
9 | Area in square metres of Victoria Tower Gardens as a whole that will be occupied by the intended UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre, including (a) the entrance pavilion, (b) courtyard and ramp into the Learning Centre, (c) associated hard standing, (d) service access, (e) new access paths, (f) the parts of the mound not accessible to the public, and (g) areas to be enclosed to ensure the security of the Centre. | 1429 m2 | NHM Park Area Diagram rev 2 |
10 | Proportion of (9) | 7.58% | NHM Park Area Diagram rev 2 |