The House of Lords’ new £9.6 million Peers’ Entrance has drawn sharp criticism from peers, who report that the upgraded security door, part of a multi-year project begun in 2023, remains malfunctioning.
The entrance is reportedly not fully accessible to disabled peers and requires a staff member to manually operate it, prompting concerns.
Leader of the House of Lords, Baroness Smith, described the situation as “completely unacceptable,” while a House of Lords spokesperson confirmed ongoing efforts to rectify the issues at no additional cost to taxpayers.
The spokesperson emphasized the project’s importance in enhancing security across the Parliamentary estate, a key recommendation following the 2017 Westminster terror attack.
Baroness Smith attributed the cost increase from the initial £6.1 million estimate to operational costs during construction and heritage preservation challenges at the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
However, the door’s full operational capacity remains uncertain, prompting Baroness Smith to state that alternative solutions need to be quickly implemented if full functionality is not achievable.
During a House of Lords debate, Conservative peer Lord Forsyth condemned the project as a “complete white elephant and a disaster,” highlighting its accessibility issues and the need for a dedicated attendant.
Lord Forsyth pointed out the irony of one of the “most expensive front doors in the world” requiring manual operation, citing an incident where a wheelchair user was prevented from entering. Former transport secretary Lord Howell echoed concerns about the significant waste of public funds.
Conservative peer Lord Robathan demanded accountability for the project’s failures, drawing a comparison to the private sector where such shortcomings would result in dismissals.
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