Portcullis House needs overhaul to ‘prevent glass falling on to people’

Portcullis House requires work likely to cost tens of millions of pounds, according to a parliamentary report obtained by the Observer. Photograph: Maureen McLean/Rex/Shutterstock

The parliamentary office building Portcullis House requires a “complete overhaul” of its roof and has “severe structural failings” in its atrium glazing, warns an official parliamentary report obtained by the Observer.

The new study, commissioned by the parliamentary authorities, warns that rain is leaking into MPs’ offices and recommends roof works likely to cost tens of millions pounds. It suggests an interim measure of adding netting to the underside of the atrium roof “to prevent glass from falling on to people” in the event of cracked panes. The House of Commons said this weekend that netting was being installed in the atrium.