The Palace of Westminster dates from the 1840s and 1850s and many features have never undergone restoration and renewal. The most recent significant renovation work took place in the 1940s, following bomb damage to the House of Commons Chamber in World War II.
There is now a real risk that - unless significant restoration work is undertaken - major, irreversible damage may be done to the Palace which is an iconic building and key feature of the Westminster World Heritage Site.
The major elements of the restoration and renewal work that the Palace now requires include:
- Replacing antiquated heating, ventilation, electrical, water and drainage systems
- Continued major restoration works on the cast-iron roofs to ensure the Palace is watertight and prevent further damage to the integrity of the building
- Safe removal of significant amounts of asbestos which has limited the ability to undertake restoration and renewal work in the past
- Installation of improved fire safety systems and compartmentalisation to ensure the risk of devastating fire is minimised
- Installation of ICT facilities necessary for the efficient functioning of Parliament.
The House of Commons Commission and the House Committee of the House of Lords, on 29 and 30 October respectively, agreed to commission a comprehensive, independent assessment, including costs, of a range of options for the renovation and renewal of the Palace of Westminster. The Commission and House Committee both ruled out the option of constructing a brand new building. Their decisions were informed by the report of a study group that assessed the strategic need for, and feasibility of, a fundamental renovation of the Palace.
On these pages, you will find information about the Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster project which will be updated as it progresses.
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