Parliament at opera house site 'would cost' about Lm16m

It is estimated that if Parliament were to be built on the site formerly occupied by the Opera House this would cost about Lm16 million, including Lm7 million for an underground car park, Urban Development and Roads Minister Jesmond Mugliette said.

Speaking on the weekly TV programme Bondiplus, Mr Mugliette said that although the government has not yet taken a final decision on whether to build Parliament or not on the site, siting the House of Representatives there seemed to be the most viable of all projects that had been considered.

He said he was convinced the government would find private entrepreneurs willing to fund such a project.

Asked about the choice of the architect, Mr Mugliette said Richard England had been involved in the designs for the site since 1995 and there was a commitment with him in this respect.

Prof. England had received some Lm400,000 for his services related to designs of the site and the fees for the building of Parliament had not yet been negotiated with him, Mr Mugliette said.

Asked why an international competition was not held for the designs, Mr Mugliette said the government wanted to get on with it, when Cabinet approves it, and did not want to lose time organising such competitions, which were very time-consuming.

Contacted yesterday, Prof. England said he has been working on the site, including designs for Freedom Square and the whole area, since 1996 and the fees were based on tariffs established by law and approved by the Chamber of Architects.

He said the fee amounted to six per cent of the expense and the project was estimated to cost Lm40 million.

He had applied for a permit and had obtained an outline permit and was paid part of the fees due to him.