The newly completed home for the National Assembly For Wales (Welsh Assembly) finally opened for business in February 2006, three years late and with a final completion price of nearly £67 million, including information technology, broadcasting equipment and furnishing costs - almost five times the original budget.

Designed by architect Lord Richard Rogers, the new building called the Senedd - parliament or senate in Welsh - has already won an important award for sustainable construction.

The Building Research Establishment (BRE) award recognised the 'green' principles within its design. The award also recognised the low environmental impact that the building has achieved through the use of renewable and low energy solutions to construct, heat and maintain the building.

The new Senedd opened on February 7th 2006

As well as being an exemplar of environmental design, the Senedd is conceived to have a greater cultural significance - to reflect Wales' maturing democracy by creating a building that clearly communicates the democratic values of openness and participation. Less kind commentators, have suggested that the building is nothing more than a "big shed with a chamber in the middle"' or an "airport lounge".