Members return to the Senedd Siambr following redevelopment

Tuesday, 24 February 2026 10:27

By Nathan Spackman

Members of the Senedd are returning to the Siambr today, after a year long redevelopment project to expand the debating chamber in preparation for the election of 36 additional Members on 7th May.

The work is said to be the most significant physical change to the Senedd building since it opened on 1st March 2026, marking "The most substantial development in Welsh devolution".

Whilst upgrade works have been undertaken, Members have met in the debating chamber in the Ty Hywel building behind the Senedd, which will now return to the education and visitor programme, to host sessions for schools and community groups.

Llywydd of the Senedd, Rt Hon Elin Jones MS, said: “This return to the Siambr marks an important milestone for our Senedd. Our debating chamber has been transformed to meet the needs of a larger parliament and a new era of Welsh democracy as we look ahead to the election on 7 May. This is a building shaped around openness, sustainability and the people we serve, and the changes reflect the next chapter in our democratic journey.”

The Siambr has been expanded to accommodate 96 Members using removable back wall sections that were incorporated into the original design two decades ago.

The Siambr expansion also continues to honour the wider Senedd’s environmental design, by reusing Welsh Oak from the original Member’s desks, refurbishing and reusing existing oak doors, using slate from the same Welsh quarry as the 2026 construction and commissioning, primarily Welsh-based contractors.

The Members return to the Siambr to meet in Plenary at 1:30pm on Tuesday 24 February. The first item on the agenda will be the weekly First Minister’s Questions session, and can be watched live on Senedd.tv

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