The Houses of Parliament are at risk of a catastrophic fire or similar disaster unless MPs tackle funding for refurbishments, a cross-party committee has warned, amid ever-rising costs and repeated delays.
The cross-party Commons public accounts committee (PAC) said urgent action was needed to avoid the risk of a major fire and to staunch increasing costs. Every year of inaction adds an estimated £420m to the restoration programme, the committee reported.
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the Conservative MP who chairs the PAC, said there had been a "political allergy" to making decisions. "Consider the impact of global rolling news footage of Notre Dame-like flames licking out of the building's roof, resulting in the destruction of our heritage, or worse, injuries or loss of life," he said. "These are not notional possibilities, but real and rising risks."
The Victorian Palace of Westminster, a Grade I-listed Unesco world heritage site, is beset by problems barely kept in check by ongoing maintenance: regular plumbing failures, leaking roofs, crumbling masonry protected by scaffolding, and a persistent fire risk, mainly from outdated electrics, necessitating 24-hour fire patrols. Maintenance costs around £1.5m a week and are expected to reach £2m.
Decisions on how and when to begin a full restoration have been repeatedly delayed amid disagreement and spiralling costs. A recent estimate put the work as high as £40bn and said it could potentially last six decades. Four proposals have been narrowed to two: a “full decant”, with the Commons in Richmond House and the Lords at the QEII conference centre, lasting up to 24 years and costing about £15.6bn, or a “staged decant” lasting 38 to 61 years and costing about £39.2bn. The report expressed concerns that the £417m estimate to refurbish the QEII conference centre and the bill of about £2bn to set up the northern part of the estate for a decant felt “very high”, noting that Canada had managed to install a temporary chamber as its parliamentary estate was refurbished for much less.
The PAC called for a more robust approach to cost estimates and timetabling, with a timetable to help a decision on the main project in 2030. It also urged the formation of a new restoration and renewal select committee to allow MPs to hold senior officials to account.
A parliament spokesperson said the report "provides welcome scrutiny". Work is already happening across the estate to ensure ongoing safety.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The Palace of Westminster is a Unesco world heritage site and iconic symbol of UK democracy; its destruction would be a moral and cultural blow.
- Taxpayers face billions in costs that rise every year without action.
- A major fire could cause loss of life and disrupt government operations indefinitely.
Background
The Palace of Westminster was built in the Victorian era and requires extensive renovation to address outdated infrastructure. The restoration and renewal programme has long been delayed due to political disagreement over the scope and cost, with options including full or partial decants of the building.
Key Perspectives
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (PAC chair): warns that inaction risks a catastrophic fire like Notre Dame, with rising costs and increasing danger; criticises "political allergy" to decisions.
Parliament spokesperson: says the report is welcome scrutiny, and work is already happening to ensure safety.
What to Watch
- The clerks of both houses are expected to set out a plan for engaging parliamentarians in the next six months.
- A decision on the restoration programme is slated for 2030; cost estimates and a timetable are due before then.
- The risk of fire remains high, with 24-hour patrols and outdated electrics still in place.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe Palace of Westminster is at risk of a Notre Dame-style fire if MPs do not tackle refurbishment funding, the committee says.World news | The Guardian: “The Palace of Westminster will be at risk of a Notre Dame-style fire or a similar catastrophic event if MPs do not tackle the issue of funding refurbishments, a parliamentary committee has said.”
- SupportedMaintenance costs are expected to reach £2m a week.World news | The Guardian: “The PAC report said that without action the figure was expected to reach £2m.”
- SupportedThe restoration could take decades.World news | The Guardian: “a recent estimate found the work could cost as much as £40bn and potentially last for six decades.”
- SupportedThe cross-party committee warned that urgent action was needed to avoid a major fire or similar disaster and staunch increasing costs.World news | The Guardian: “The cross-party Commons public accounts committee (PAC) said urgent action was needed to avoid the risk of a major fire or similar disaster, and to staunch increasing costs”
- SupportedEvery year of inaction adds an estimated £420m to the restoration programme.World news | The Guardian: “with every year of inaction adding an estimated £420m to the restoration programme.”
- SupportedSir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown said there had been a “political allergy” to making decisions.World news | The Guardian: “There has been a “political allergy” to making decisions, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the Conservative MP who chairs the PAC, said.”
- SupportedClifton-Brown said: “Consider the impact of global rolling news footage of Notre Dame-like flames licking out of the building’s roof, resulting in the destruction of our heritage, or worse, injuries or loss of life.”World news | The Guardian: ““Consider the impact of global rolling news footage of Notre Dame-like flames licking out of the building’s roof, resulting in the destruction of our heritage, or worse, injuries or loss of life,” he said.”
- SupportedClifton-Brown said: “These are not notional possibilities, but real and rising risks.”World news | The Guardian: ““These are not notional possibilities, but real and rising risks.””
- SupportedMaintenance costs are about £1.5m a week.World news | The Guardian: “This has resulted in a maintenance bill of about £1.5m a week.”
- SupportedA recent estimate put the restoration cost at up to £40bn and its duration at potentially six decades.World news | The Guardian: “a recent estimate found the work could cost as much as £40bn and potentially last for six decades.”
- SupportedThe full-decant proposal would last up to 24 years and cost about £15.6bn.World news | The Guardian: “The project would last up to 24 years and cost about £15.6bn.”
- SupportedThe staged-decant proposal would last 38 to 61 years and cost about £39.2bn.World news | The Guardian: “A “staged decant” would last anything from 38 to 61 years and involve the Commons moving to the Lords chamber for up to two years. That project would cost about £39.2bn.”