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Houses of Parliament at risk of ‘Notre Dame-style fire’ as renovation costs rise
A parliamentary committee has warned that delays to restoring the Palace of Westminster leave it at growing risk of a major fire or other disaster, while pushing up the cost of repairs. It says MPs must make decisions on funding and the project’s direction to protect the Grade I-listed, Unesco world heritage site and avoid further damage to the UK’s reputation.
Maintenance currently costs about £1.5m a week and could soon reach £2m, with outdated electrics requiring round-the-clock fire patrols; each year of delay is estimated to add £420m to the programme. Two restoration options remain: a full decant lasting up to 24 years at about £15.6bn, or a staged decant lasting 38 to 61 years at about £39.2bn. The committee recommends clearer cost estimates, a timetable for a decision by 2030, plans for temporary accommodation and simpler oversight.
In short
- Westminster’s restoration delays are raising costs and safety risks.
- Maintenance could reach £2m a week.
- MPs face two plans costing £15.6bn or £39.2bn.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A full decant could let workers restore the Palace more safely and efficiently, reducing the time the building remains exposed to failing systems and avoiding years of costly maintenance. Supporters could argue that investing in a coordinated programme better protects a nationally important heritage site and limits the risk of a catastrophic fire or further deterioration.
The case against
A full decant would require MPs and staff to leave for many years and commit to a large, potentially uncertain public expenditure, so a staged approach may be easier to manage and fund. Supporters of staging could argue that it preserves parliamentary access to the historic building during the works and allows decisions and spending to be adjusted over time, provided safety risks are actively managed.
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