Stormont canteen renovation almost £200k over budget

A refurbishment of the Stormont assembly canteen cost nearly £200,000 more than its original budget.

More premium design options including fitted booth seating and "reeded timber panelling" were also chosen despite the project increasing in cost.

Half-a-million pounds was spent on the Blue Flax canteen - which caters for assembly members, staff and visitors - when it was renovated last summer.

Critics accused Stormont of "taking the taxpayer for a ride", but the Northern Ireland Assembly said it sought to ensure the "best balance of quality and economy".

The costs were outlined in documents obtained by BBC News NI.

The assembly said the increased spending was due to "factors, including inflationary pressures and rising material costs".

The assembly added that it "chose the lowest-cost bidder" and "within that bid, there were a number of finish options".

The final cost for the canteen refurbishment at Parliament Buildings was £530,532.

It included builders' work as well as doors, floor finishes, joinery, furniture, appliances, light fixtures, and mechanical and electrical installations.

The initial budget was around £350,000 when the project was agreed in 2022, according to an internal assembly document.

The paper, dated May 2025, revised the estimate to £441,000.

A new tender process seeking a "valued engineered design" was conducted, with contractors asked to provide several finish options due to "budget constraints".

Officials recommended choosing more premium fit-out design and wall finishes from the options presented by the chosen contractor.

These included opting for new fitted booth seating and "reeded timber panelling" instead of more basic options.

The costs of the different options were redacted from the document, which was released through a Freedom of Information request.

BBC News NI approached the contractor to ask how much the options differed in price, but the firm said it was unable to discuss it without permission from the client.

Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) assembly member Timothy Gaston called for a "clear and transparent explanation".

"These documents reveal that the project didn't just cost significantly more than its original budget but that this happened despite officials explicitly recognising the need to control spending," he said.

"This is not simply about a refurbishment. It is about priorities, judgement and a culture within Stormont of entitlement and willingness to take the taxpayer for a ride."

People Before Profit assembly member Gerry Carroll said the canteen "needed a lick of paint and a bit more" but there were "huge questions" over the level of spending.

"Obviously every workplace including Stormont should have facilities that are comfortable, modern and fit for purpose," he said.

Carroll said at a time of significant pressures on public services "we're seeing £200,000 being spent when it doesn't need to be spent".

The Assembly Commission is the Stormont body that oversees the running of Parliament Buildings and is made up of representatives of the five main parties.

It discussed the refurbishment last December when the overall cost was first published.

According to the minutes, the commission was "advised" of the initial £350,000 cost estimate in February 2022 and approved a business case in October that year.

The estimate was increased in May 2025 to £463,000 and "approved" by senior officials.

It was noted that the commission "had not been previously advised of the increase compared to the original business case".

Members agreed that "communications around the project could have been stronger and that this should be reviewed for future projects".

In a statement, the Stormont assembly said the commission "understands concerns about the costs".

It said that "a number of factors, including inflationary pressures and rising material costs increased the price of the project".

The assembly was asked why more premium design options were chosen when the project was already over budget.

It responded: "In terms of supplier selection, the assembly chose the lowest-cost bidder and within that bid, there were a number of finish options."

The statement continued: "A competitive procurement process was carried out to select the most appropriate supplier to carry out the refurbishment project, guaranteeing the best balance of quality and economy.

"This procurement process was carried out in line with public sector procurement principles."

It said the restaurant "received a minor refresh in 2008 but has not been updated substantially since 1998".

"Our new engagement strategy aims to increase understanding and enable participation in the work of the assembly, including bringing more people to Parliament Buildings," it added.

"This requires us to maximise the use of our space and having modern, fit-for-purpose facilities is an important part of that."