Asked by: Edward Leigh (Conservative - Gainsborough)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate the Government has made of the possible (a) depth and (b) breadth of the roots of the mature trees in Victoria Tower Gardens which will potentially be affected by the construction of the proposed Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
We have undertaken and continue to undertake extensive arboricultural surveys to establish the extent of root systems which vary along the length of the gardens. We have also commissioned an arboricultural expert to advise on measures to enhance tree health.
Asked by: Edward Leigh (Conservative - Gainsborough)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy that no construction work will begin on the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre in Victoria Tower Gardens until the Government can provide an assurance that none of the roots of the plane trees in that location will be compromised by that construction.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
Measures have been undertaken to ensure the Memorial and Learning Centre will have minimal impact on tree roots. For example, as a result of ground-penetrating radar surveys carried out by arboricultural experts, the Memorial has been relocated further north than the original competition proposal to avoid tree root protection zones.
Asked by: Edward Leigh (Conservative - Gainsborough)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what will be the proportion reduction in the lawn area of Victoria Tower Gardens as a result of the proposed construction of the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
The Holocaust Memorial will require seven and a half percent of Victoria Tower Gardens. Around eighty five percent green space being retained, with improved drainage and planting. Existing paths will be replaced with water permeable ones to increase the health of vegetation, including trees.
Asked by: Edward Leigh (Conservative - Gainsborough)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, on what date public access to Victoria Tower Gardens leading up to the fins of the proposed Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre will be permitted; and if he will place in the Library a plan showing the division between areas where public access (a) will and (b) will not be permitted.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
The aim is to open the Holocaust Memorial in late 2022. The public exhibition boards showing the area open to the public are available on the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation website at
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/761583/UK_Holocaust_Memorial_public_exhibition_boards_December_2018.pdf.
Asked by: Edward Leigh (Conservative - Gainsborough)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, on what date in January 2016 a list of 24 possible sites for the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre was communicated by the CBRE to the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
CBRE submitted their report on 11 January 2016.
Asked by: Edward Leigh (Conservative - Gainsborough)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what criteria the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation used to assess what was cost-prohibitive in respect of possible sites for the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre in January 2016.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
The Foundation considered the likely purchase cost of possible sites.
Asked by: Edward Leigh (Conservative - Gainsborough)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what meetings were held in Downing Street on 2 December 2015 relating to the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre and involving members of the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation; and who attended those meetings.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
I refer my Rt Hon Friend to the answer to Question UIN 122636 answered on 23 January 2018. The meeting included representatives from the Royal Parks, DCMS, MHCLG and UKHMF.
Asked by: Edward Leigh (Conservative - Gainsborough)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, on what date the UK Holocaust Foundation commissioned the CBRE to search for a suitable site for the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
CBRE commenced work the week commencing 16 November 2015.
Asked by: Edward Leigh (Conservative - Gainsborough)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 29 May to Question 256928, if he will publish a list of the meetings Big Ideas has participated in or organised as part of its public engagement work relating to the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre, indicating the target group in each such case.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
Representatives from Big Ideas have visited several community groups in Westminster including mother and toddlers and senior citizens. More widely they have engaged with Holocaust Survivors, young people and faith communities.
Asked by: Edward Leigh (Conservative - Gainsborough)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 29 May to Question 256928 on the National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service, if he will publish a list the groups referred to in that answer that Big Ideas is reaching in public engagement.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
Representatives from Big Ideas have visited several community groups in Westminster including mother and toddlers and senior citizens. More widely they have engaged with Holocaust Survivors, young people and faith communities.