Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
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 - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
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 Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
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 - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
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 Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the floor area in square metres of the proposed underground construction of the UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre; and what percentage of this underground area will be used for exhibitions and public space as part of the Learning Centre.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
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 Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government what (1) area in square metres, and (2) proportion, of Victoria Tower Gardens as a whole 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.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
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 Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Stedman-Scott on 21 June (HL Deb col 52GC), when they will introduce the standards and a regulatory framework to deliver accessible new homes.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
As set out by Baroness Stedman-Scott, Government has consulted on options to raise the accessibility of new homes and we have been considering all responses and evidence to inform how we can best improve standards. We will be setting out our plans in a government response to the consultation in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Stedman-Scott on 21 June (HL Deb col 56GC), when they plan to implement the findings of the research they have carried out on Part M of the building regulations.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
As set out by Baroness Stedman-Scott, Government is conducting research as part of a full review of Part M. The research is still ongoing and once completed will help government consider, in due course, changes to statutory guidance to the building regulations covering access to and use of buildings.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Greenhalgh on 22 June (HL772), what proportion of responses to freedom of information requests made to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities were completed and communicated to the requester within 20 working days during the first quarter of 2022.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
The Cabinet Office has responsibility for Freedom of Information policy in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and publishes information on the handling of requests (attached): https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/freedom-of-information-statistics-january-to-march-2022
During the first quarter of 2022 the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities received 243 requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act and Environmental Information Regulations. Of these requests, 91% were responded to within 20 working days, or a permitted extension.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Greenhalgh on 22 June (HL771), whether they will provide the information requested in FOI 17451012 about optimism bias in the costing of the UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The estimated cost of the UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre has been produced in line with Green Book guidance. The publication of further information about costs will be addressed when costs are no longer commercially sensitive.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Greenhalgh on 8 June (HL337) regarding the cost of the UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre, where the information concerning the costs was published in September 2021.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
Information concerning costs was given in response to written questions in the House of Commons and published on 13 September 2021 as UIN 41607 (https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2021-09-03/41607 )
and UIN 41608 (https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2021-09-03/41608 ).
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the maximum time for internal reviews of freedom of information responses from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities; and what proportion of responses were completed and communicated to the requester within 20 working days during the first quarter of 2022.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
There is no statutory time limit on responding to internal reviews relating to Freedom of Information requests. Internal reviews can vary in complexity, including large volumes of information, and the need to consult with third parties. The Freedom of Information Code of Practice provides guidance for public authorities on best practice in meeting their responsibilities under Part I of the Act. It sets the standard for all public authorities when considering how to respond to internal reviews.