DBR Ltd Wins Place On Prestigious Parliament Restoration Framework
DBR Ltd, one of the UK’s leading conservation construction specialists, announces it has won a place on the Houses of Parliament Restoration and Renewal Delivery Authority’s Intrusive Survey Commercial Framework.
Appointment to this prestigious Framework follows a highly competitive bid process which saw the very best specialist contractors in heritage conservation coming forward to be considered.
The skill and precision of DBR’s team of master craftspeople, recently demonstrated on the Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) conservation project, and the decade-long restoration of the entirety of the Palace of Westminster’s Encaustic Tiles, perfectly showcases DBR’s understanding of the parliamentary estate and suitability for this equally ambitious project.
Digging Deeper
The selected investigating specialists will carry out dozens of detailed building surveys, looking at historic stonework, digging bore holes to carry out underground examinations, carrying out archaeological digs, and mapping out asbestos in more detail.
This next phase will represent the largest and most in-depth surveys undertaken to date, to truly understand the condition of Parliament and extent of restoration required.
Unearthing History
Excitingly, the project, will see contracted engineers and construction experts unearth the 150-year old building’s secrets, as part of the next stage of detailed and in-depth investigations across the Parliamentary Estate.
Commenting on the successful bid, DBR’s Executive Director, Adrian Attwood, says, “DBR is privileged to be awarded a place on Parliament’s R&R Framework as Conservation Contractor. Over the next few years, DBR’s skilled craftspeople will be carrying out careful and intrusive investigation work to inform the condition of the Parliamentary Estate’s Grade 1 listed buildings, playing a crucial role in this massive, but essential, discovery project.”
He continues, “Not only will working on this unique UNESCO world heritage site be a great opportunity to showcase our team’s extensive conservation knowledge and expertise, it will also serve as the perfect platform on which to champion heritage skills. Through campaigns such as our own ’Year of the Master Craftsperson’, to introduce more craft apprentices to the conservation of our built heritage, we hope this project will make a compelling case for encouraging more young people to consider a heritage skills-based career.”
David Goldstone, CEO of the Houses of Parliament Restoration and Renewal Delivery Authority, says, “We are carrying out dozens of in-depth surveys to build the most detailed record of the Palace of Westminster ever created, to inform restoration work to protect the building. The hard work of specialists from across the UK, will be invaluable as we continue to focus on the vital work needed to secure the future Parliament.”
Work on the Intrusive Survey phase begins in spring 2022, with an estimated project duration of 5 years.
Newly laid encaustic tiles St Stephens Hall (from previous Palace of Westminster project, the relaying and restoration of the Encaustic Tile Floors).
