The new Welsh Assembly may not move to its planned £22.8m headquarters as First Secretary Rhodri Morgan (pictured) reviews the plans. Earlier this week he was asked to approve a £1m payment for the design phase of the new building, due to be completed in the summer of 2002. A spokesman told i-FM that the First Secretary decided to put the project on hold while he satisfied himself that it offered value for money.

The Assembly currently sits in a pre-existing office building. The three alternatives on offer are to stay put; to move to another building, possibly Cardiff City Hall; or to proceed with the new headquarters.

Symonds has a three year contract to provide property management services to both the Assembly's 'temporary' home and the new building.

Richard Byatt