Committee publication · Correspondence · 27 April 2026

Clerk of the House to Finance Committee Chair on Norman Shaw North, 15 April 2026

From: Finance Committee (Commons)

Summary

Letter from the Clerk of the House to the Finance Committee Chair regarding the Norman Shaw North building project. The Clerk reports that cost estimates were refined in November 2025 following design assurance and supply chain work, and notes that lessons learned from the project—including earlier regulator engagement and stronger risk escalation—are being applied to the Restoration and Renewal Programme and wider Strategic Estates projects.

Key findings

  • Cost estimates for Norman Shaw North were refined in November 2025 following detailed design assurance and supply chain engagement
  • A Finance Committee paper on the project was drafted in January 2026 when project team expected to present to the Committee
  • Key lessons from NSN project include earlier regulator engagement, clearer scope change decision points, and stronger escalation of cost risks
  • Restoration and Renewal Programme has already incorporated NSN lessons, strengthening surveying, risk management, and contingency planning
  • Full lessons learned report to follow project handover

Tone

Procedural

Topics

public-financeparliamentary-buildingsproject-management

Key actors

Tom Goldsmith, Clerk of the House, Finance Committee, Strategic Estates, Restoration and Renewal Programme

Notable line

Lessons from the Norman Shaw North (NSN) project are already being shared across Strategic Estates, with a full lessons learned report to follow handover.

Key Quotes

A paper for the Finance Committee was drafted and shared with me, as Accounting Officer, in January 2026 when the project team believed they would appear in front of the Committee.
Tom Goldsmith, Clerk of the House · on timing of Finance Committee submission
Key learning, such as earlier regulator engagement, clearer scope change decision points, and stronger escalation of cost risks, are now being built into project planning.
Tom Goldsmith, Clerk of the House · on lessons being applied to future projects
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Source · parliament.uk record ↗

Clerk of the House to Finance Committee Chair on Norman Shaw North, 15 April 2026 | Beyond The Vote | Beyond The Vote