Houses of Parliament at risk of 'Notre Dame-style fire' as renovation costs rise

In brief

• A parliamentary committee has warned that delays to the Palace of Westminster restoration raise the risk of fire or a power cut.
• Weekly maintenance costs could rise from £1.5 million to £2 million, and each year of delay adds about £420 million to the renovation bill.
• Lawmakers are being urged to narrow four restoration options to two without further delay.

Warning from the Public Accounts Committee

The Committee of Public Accounts (PAC) has said the Palace of Westminster faces serious risks, including a major fire or a sudden loss of electricity during the State Opening of Parliament, unless the restoration programme is accelerated (У Британії попередили: Вестмінстерському палацу загрожує небезпека через затримки реконструкції – Європейська правда) (Houses of Parliament at risk of ‘Notre Dame-style fire’ as renovation costs rise – The Guardian). The committee says the risks are real and growing as repeated delays keep the historic building in its current state.

Rising costs

The committee estimates that weekly spending to maintain the parliamentary estate could rise from £1.5 million to £2 million in the coming years. It also calculates that every year of delay adds about £420 million to the cost of the renovation.

Options under consideration

Members of Parliament are currently weighing four restoration scenarios, and the committee wants that number reduced to two. The first option would require a full decant, meaning MPs and Lords would leave the building for the duration of the works.

Consequences of inaction

PAC chair Geoffrey Clifton-Brown has urged lawmakers not to postpone decisions, arguing that every delay costs the public hundreds of millions of pounds. He warned that neglect could have catastrophic consequences, from a loss of power during ceremonial events to a large-scale fire similar to the one that damaged Notre-Dame in Paris. He said the danger extends beyond cultural heritage to the safety of people working in and visiting the building.