A new law will allow a Holocaust memorial centre to be built next to Parliament, Rishi Sunak has told MPs.
The Prime Minister said the Government would take action after campaigners won a legal battle to quash planning permission for the national memorial in Westminster.
The plan to build the centre in Victoria Tower Gardens ran into difficulties over a 1900 law protecting the park land.
The Prime Minister has announced plans to introduce legislation to pave the way for a new National Holocaust Memorial, standing next to @UKParliament.
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) January 25, 2023
The Memorial will honour the memory of the millions so cruelly murdered and preserve the testimonies of brave survivors. pic.twitter.com/Zm6fOqFZvO
But Mr Sunak told MPs the Government will legislate to ensure the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre is built next to Parliament.
Planning permission was granted in July 2021 after a public inquiry and the recommendations of planning inspector David Morgan.
But it was challenged in the High Court by the London Historic Parks and Gardens Trust, which argued against building the centre on the small triangular Grade II-listed park to the south of Parliament.
The London County Council (Improvements) Act 1900 required the land to be used as a public park.
Ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day on Friday, Mr Sunak paid tribute at Prime Minister’s Questions to the “extraordinary courage” of survivors, including 94-year-old Arek Hersh, who was watching proceedings in the Commons.
“This will legislate to build the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre next to Parliament so the testimonies of survivors like Arek will be heard at the heart of our democracy by every generation to come.”
