HC Deb 26 February 1999 vol 326 cc481-2W
Ms Buck

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions where the new Greater London Authority will be located; and if he will make a statement. [73922]

Mr. Raynsford

I have decided to proceed with the scheme for a new building on the London Bridge City site proposed by CIT Markborough Ltd., incorporating an outstanding design by Foster and Partners. The building, on a major brown field site on the south bank of the River Thames, by Tower Bridge, will be very energy efficient, include the provision of significant civic space in and around the building and improve public access to the river.

We shall be working with the developer and his architect over the coming weeks to develop the building design taking account of comments that have been expressed about it, and to agree the detailed terms on which the building will be available. Subject to a satisfactory resolution of these discussions and the developer securing planning permission quickly, I anticipate that the building will be ready for occupation in 2001.

This concludes a major and very competitive search for a suitable location for the headquarters of the Greater London Authority (GLA). From a long list of 55 initial sites, we invited the developers of seven sites to submit outline proposals which, after a careful assessment, was reduced to a short-list of two. The developers were then invited to submit detailed designs by two of the country's leading architects, for London Bridge City and Victoria House in Bloomsbury Square to show how they would meet the GLA's needs.

Both schemes have since been carefully assessed against the following criteria: location, interior and external design concepts, accessibility, operational suitability, the impact on the environment and value for money. I have also taken into account the views of my design advisory group and the views of Londoners who were invited to give an opinion on both schemes when visiting exhibitions about them late last year.

The new building will not be ready before the Greater London Authority assumes its responsibilities on 3 July 2000. We are currently considering the options for accommodating the new Authority in the interim period and I will make a further announcement in due course.