The Houses of Parliament could be the latest building affected by the dangerous concrete crisis, as surveyors have been called in to investigate if reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete is present.
The parliamentary estate, where Gillian Keegan yesterday addressed MPs regarding the presence of RAAC in more than 100 schools, is the latest UK site set to be inspected in the saga, Bloomberg reports.
RAAC is a lightweight building material which was used in construction from the 1950s up to the mid-1990s – and is now assessed to be at risk of collapse.
If discovered by surveyors in the government buildings, it would be the latest in a string of structural issues faced by the ailing Grade I listed estate.
Parliament is already in need of urgent repairs, including the removal of asbestos, plumbing and fire safety works and conservation repairs to the Palace of Westminster, much of which dates back around 200 years.
The parliamentary estate is the latest site to be inspected in the reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete saga
The revelation comes as the concrete crisis spread to Britain’s theatres, with a performance of Shrek the Musical cancelled today.
All concerts and productions at Carlisle’s Sands Centre were halted due to RAAC in the auditorium which needs to be assessed by experts.
Tonight’s show featuring the grumpy, green ogre has been cancelled, with the rest of the week-long run in doubt.
Performances have also been suspended at The Orchard Theatre in Dartford, Kent due to the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete roof panels.
Built in 1983, the theatre was due to host a Country Superstars performance tonight followed by a Whitney Houston tribute concert tomorrow and a show by comedian Jimmy Carr on Friday.
The National Theatre on London‘s South Bank said it too had the suspect concrete in a number of its backstage areas – although it said ‘initial indications are that they are safe’.
The Sands Centre in Carlisle has been forced to close due to the presence of RAAC concrete
Work takes places to fix issues related to reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) at Hornsey School for Girls in London
A showing of Shrek the Musical was cancelled after RAAC was found in the Sands Centre in Carlisle
With surveyors scrambling to assess whether buildings pose a risk, fears are growing about how far the disruption will spread beyond schools.
Mark Fryer, leader of Cumberland Council, said the authority had ‘proactively reviewed our public buildings’ following the Government’s change in guidance on the use of RAAC in the construction of school buildings.
He said while the Sands Leisure Centre – which reopened last year following a £27million redevelopment – was unaffected, RAAC is present in the auditorium at the stand-alone events venue, built in the 1980s.
Mr Fryer said the venue was being temporarily closed in ‘a precautionary step’ so that ‘further assessments can be made of the older part of the building’.
‘This is not a decision that Cumberland Council has taken lightly, and we apologise to anyone who has been impacted’, he added, saying ticket holders would be contacted.
A joint statement from Dartford Borough Council and Trafalgar Theatres said they were ‘sorry to announce that it has become necessary to suspend performances at The Orchard Theatre, Dartford with immediate effect’.
The National Theatre on London’s South Bank said it had discovered RAAC concrete in its backstage areas
It said a consultant’s report from April found defects in RAAC roof panels were ‘not significant’, but a routine inspection on Monday in line with updated guidance resulted in the recommendation of temporary closure.
Ticket-holders will be offered refunds or rescheduled dates.
Dartford Council leader Jeremy Kite said: ‘It’s not the news that anyone wants to hear but there is nothing more important than the safety of the audiences, staff, artists, volunteers and everyone at the venue.
‘Although any closure is a blow, we are in the fortunate position to have the resources and determination to put the building right and reopen it for the benefit of residents.’
The National Theatre said it had ‘a small number of select backstage areas where RAAC is present’.
‘Our structural engineers are in the process of surveying these areas, initial indications are that they are safe and do not currently require remedial works,’ it said in a statement.
‘We have always and will continue to take the safety of our staff and audiences very seriously.’
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