Palace of Westminster restoration could take over half a century and cost £22bn

Preliminary reports into the crumbling Parliament building have revealed that the degradation is worse than anticipated, while the levels of asbestos are higher than first thought.

With more information about its status having been gained through tens of thousands of hours of building surveys, the Houses of Parliament Restoration & Renewal body has released its initial assessment of cost and schedule for the project. It presents various options, some in which ministers vacate the Houses of Parliament while the work takes place, and some in which the work takes place while ministers remain within.

Predictably, the option in which ministers decant from the building is both faster and cheaper – yet it would still mean leaving the Houses of Parliament for a period of 12 to 20 years. It is believed they would move to a chamber in the House of Lords while these works are carried out. This would cost between £7bn and £13bn by today’s prices – meaning inflation could increase it significantly over the course of its implementation.

Many MPs have already expressed distaste for the idea of being ousted for such a long period and have argued that the work should take place around them.

However, this would present significant extra challenges, take longer and cost more money. The worst case scenario, with ministers not moving at all except for extended recess each summer, has the work taking 46 to 76 years and costing between £11bn and £22bn – again by today’s prices. This is an increase of 60% on the initial cost projection and if inflation and VAT increases are taken into account a further increase of 180% could be seen. This would also create “extraordinary” risks.

There is also a middle option where ministers remain in place while work takes place in all other parts of Parliament. Then, once works are required in the House of Commons, ministers are moved to the House of Lords while the work takes place. This would still take between 26 and 43 years and cost between £9.5bn and £18.5bn.

The essential work on the Palace of Westminster include conservation and building work, removal of asbestos, substantially reduced fire risk and replacing the network of essential building services including power networks, sewage and water, gas and heating, data cables and more.

Last month it was announced that 18 businesses, including a significant number of SMEs, have been appointed to a commercial framework to carry out £10M worth of surveys and archaeological digs to figure out the best way to save the crumbling building.

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