The restoration of the Houses of Parliament may cost nearly £40 billion and span an astonishing 61 years, according to proposals submitted to Members of Parliament (MPs) and peers. These revelations come from the restoration team engaged in the long-overdue refurbishment of the Palace of Westminster, which is in a state of disrepair and incurs maintenance costs of £1.5 million weekly.
Two Options on the Table
The restoration team has put forth two primary options for consideration. The first is an extensive plan that would require relocating both Houses for up to 24 years starting in 2032. This alternative could see the total cost reach approximately £15.6 billion. The second, more ambitious option, involves moving only the House of Lords while undertaking the 61-year restoration, resulting in an estimated bill of £39 billion.
A decisive vote on these proposals, along with initial works, is expected soon in Parliament. The restoration and renewal team insists that a single preferred option must be identified by mid-2030 to avoid escalating costs.
Urgent Initial Works Proposed
In the interim, the team has suggested that preliminary works be capped at £3 billion over the next seven years. This initial phase would include constructing temporary accommodations for MPs and peers during the refurbishment and establishing a delivery jetty on the River Thames.
The R&R (Restoration and Renewal) Client Board, responsible for overseeing the renovation, cautioned that continuing with the current state of the building is untenable. They noted that without decisive action, the Palace faces increasing safety and operational risks, potentially leading to a costly managed decline.
“The cost of delaying a decision is estimated at £70 million a year,” the Board warned, underscoring the urgency of the situation. With much of the building dating back to the Victorian era and some sections even older, the need for substantial repairs or replacements is critical.
A Legacy of Neglect
The urgency of the restoration is underscored by a decade-old parliamentary committee report, which stated that the Palace of Westminster “faces an impending crisis which we cannot responsibly ignore.” It warned that without an intensive programme of major remedial work, the building could become uninhabitable.
Despite years of inaction, the current state of the Palace is alarming, with frequent incidents of falling masonry, asbestos exposure, and regular fire outbreaks. Since 2016, Parliament has reported 36 fire incidents, along with numerous stonemasonry and asbestos-related issues. The consensus among experts and officials is clear: the work must proceed, but how to finance and manage it remains contentious.
The Taxpayer’s Burden
Ultimately, the financial implications of this monumental restoration will fall on taxpayers, with costs expected to soar into the billions. As MPs and peers prepare to debate the future of this iconic building, the pressing question remains: can they reach a consensus on how to move forward with the necessary repairs?
Why it Matters
The fate of the Palace of Westminster is not merely a matter of architectural integrity; it is emblematic of the broader challenges facing British governance. As the heart of democracy in the UK, the building’s deterioration poses risks not just to safety but also to the functioning of Parliament itself. A failure to act decisively could undermine public trust in the political system, making it imperative that MPs come together to ensure the preservation of this historic institution.
