The Richard Rogers Partnership has delivered a stinging attack on Welsh Assembly Finance Minister Edwina Hart, who sacked the firm as architect for the controversial project.
Lord Rogers consultancy has sent an e-mail to all 60 members of the Assembly questioning Harts account of the affair and alleging that its warnings of spiralling costs were ignored.
The message said: “The highly unsatisfactory circumstances surrounding the termination of our appointment to design the new Assembly building call for detailed examination.
“Thus far, only the Finance Ministers version of events has been given. Our warning of costs went unheeded. We are deeply aggrieved at the unjust treatment we have received.”
The consultancy added that while Hart was telling the Assembly that the cost of the management contract commission alone was £470,000 over the original estimate, the architect had warned her it was £1.3m over budget.
The Auditor General for Wales is to launch an investigation at the request of opposition AMs – into the handling of the scheme.
Hart defended her sacking of the architect and said she had not ignored warnings about rising costs.
Rogers was appointed to the project after his design was selected by a judging panel chaired by Lord Callaghan.
Meanwhile, the Assembly has placed an advertisement in the Official Journal of the European Community for tenders to take over the design
EGi News 18/10/01
