For hire:12 fig tree's 5 yr agreement £148,000 (at noughty prices)

[Mr Gus]

You could say that with oversight such as that clunker that you'd expect Portcullis House to be the failing POS it has turned out to be.

When commissioned in 1992 the cost of Portcullis House was to be £165m. After building cost inflation and delays, the price increased to £235m. Costs included £150,000 for decorative fig trees, £2m for electric blinds and, for each MP, a reclining chair at £440.[5] A parliamentary inquiry into the over-spend was carried by Sir Thomas Legg. Although completed in 2000, the report was never published.[6] By April 2012 the fig trees, which were rented, had cost almost £400,000.[7]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portcullis_House

Just a couple of decades into the over engineered (deemed a 120 yr lifespan) repair costs which arose not long after the completion / opening & largely centring around the atrium have been estimated in 2023 at "up to" £143m to update the "outdated" electrical & mechanical systems!? ..more for the knackered roof.

It seems to have proven far less durable than the millenium dome skin has it not (didn't that have an anticipated 40 year lifespan)?

A good but depressing read anyhow...

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... pair-bills

Incidentally the lease on Admiralty arch makes interesting reading...

[AGT]

Can’t comment on costs, it I look after a building, built in 1990, it had Air Handling Units, Air con, 500kW module boilers, radiators.
Etc, been sticking plasters on it for years until we get the go ahead to demolish the internals- only way to upgrade ducting, pipework, out of date electrics too.

Feel the pain..