Every year the Palace of Westminster waits for repairs, the cost of the work grows by £420 million. The same delays are also raising the risk of a major fire, according to a government watchdog.
In the report, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) warns that health and safety incidents are increasing at the building, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in central London. The committee says maintenance costs could climb from £1.5 million to £2 million a week if nothing changes.
A fire risk the committee flagged in 2023
The committee’s chair, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, said the risk is not hypothetical. He warned that a fire could produce “Notre Dame-like flames” along the roof, destroying heritage or causing injuries and deaths.
The PAC first described the building as being at “constant risk of fire” in 2023. Clifton-Brown said the westminster fire risk it identified three years ago has since grown.
“There has long been a political allergy to gripping the nettle that is R&R,” Clifton-Brown said. R&R stands for repair and renovation.
Four options for the palace of westminster renovation, one decision due by 2030
Parliament voted in 2018 to move out of the Palace for restoration. Disagreement over how fully the House of Commons and the House of Lords should leave has since stalled the work.
Reviving an old building for modern use often gets stuck on how much of the original fabric to keep, and Europe’s historic pools reimagined for modern times shows how that balance can work in practice.
The R&R Client Board has set out four renovation strategies. Parliament must choose one by 2030 for the programme to move forward. Any choice on the parliament renovation needs parliamentary approval.
The board recommends two options to speed up the decision. Fully vacating the building would cost an estimated £11.1 billion to £15.6 billion and take 19 to 24 years. Partly vacating it would cost £19.5 billion to £39.2 billion and could take up to 61 years.
Clifton-Brown said the ranges are too wide to support a sound vote. “At a time of national fiscal constraint, we would expect the parliamentary authorities to examine these figures extremely carefully,” he said.
Gaps in the costings
The committee found that several costs remain unestimated. These include decommissioning, relocating the building’s services and restoring the medieval cloister court.
The cross-party committee has asked the clerks of both Houses to publish the remaining estimates and a detailed schedule of works. Without them, MPs and peers will vote on figures that are still incomplete.
“It is crucial that we preserve the palace as a symbol of our democracy,” the report said. “A failure to act would have serious consequences for taxpayers and future generations.”
For another example of giving a historic structure a second life, see Jean Prouvé’s Post-War Pavilion Becomes Japanese Tea House, a relocated landmark rebuilt with careful attention to its original design.
The adjacent Elizabeth Tower has already been restored. Architecture studio Purcell completed that work, and it received a RIBA London award last year. The tower shows that a finished restoration is possible. The rest of the palace of westminster renovation now needs a decision.
Via dezeen.com
Frequently asked questions
What did the watchdog warn about the Palace of Westminster?
The Public Accounts Committee warned that delays are raising the risk of a major fire at the Palace of Westminster and that health and safety incidents are increasing there. It said maintenance costs could climb from £1.5 million to £2 million a week if nothing changes.
When must Parliament choose a renovation option for Westminster?
Parliament must choose one of four renovation strategies by 2030 for the programme to move forward. Any choice needs parliamentary approval.
How much would fully vacating the Palace of Westminster cost?
Fully vacating the building would cost an estimated £11.1 billion to £15.6 billion and take 19 to 24 years. Partly vacating it would cost £19.5 billion to £39.2 billion and could take up to 61 years.
Which Westminster renovation costs have not yet been estimated?
The committee found that several costs remain unestimated, including decommissioning, relocating the building’s services, and restoring the medieval cloister court. It has asked the clerks of both Houses to publish the remaining estimates and a detailed schedule of works.
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