§ Sir Roger MoateTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current quantity of floor space in the Marsham tower Government building; how many 605W persons are currently employed there; how much office space is envisaged in the outline redevelopment proposals currently before Westminster city council; and approximately how many office personnel could then be accommodated.
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe current building at 2 Marsham street has a gross floor area of 890,000 sq ft above ground and accommodates approximately 3,000 civil servants from the Departments of Environment and of Transport. The outline application for the site before Westminster city council proposes 690,00 sq ft of offices above ground as well as residential and retail uses and open space. It is too early to say how many people will be accommodated in this new space. This will depend on the design of the new buildings on the site and the requirements of the eventual occupiers.
§ Sir Roger MoateTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the likely timetable for the demolition of the Marsham street Government buildings and redevelopment of the 5 acre site; and what provision he is making for proper public consultation, including hon. Members, about the plans for the future of the site both as regards alternative usage and intensity of development and building design.
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe 2 Marsham street building will be vacated by the end of 1997. Demolition will then commence and is likely to take a minimum of 18 months. Redevelopment of the site could start in 2000 with the first building becoming available for occupation in 2002. A public exhibition of the outline proposals for the site was held following the submission of the outline planning application on 18 July 1994. It is envisaged that there will be a further opportunity for the public to view the proposals after a presentation to the Royal Fine Art Commission later this year. This is an outline application and therefore proposes uses and scale of development but not building design.