1. Why is the renovation of Parliament necessary?
The Palace of Westminster dates from the 1840s and 1850s and many features, including the roof, have never been renewed. The last general renovation work took place in the 1940s following bomb damage 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 Grade 1 Listed building and key feature of the Westminster World Heritage Site.
Major elements of the proposed restoration and renewal project will 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 conservation and renovation 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.
2. What has Parliament decided to do?
The House of Commons Commission and the House of Lords House Committee agreed that doing nothing is not an option and will commission a rigorous and independent assessment of the options for restoring the building, supported by detailed costings and robust technical information. The option for the construction of a new Parliament building was rejected by both bodies.
3. Do both Houses agree on the proposals?
Both the House of Commons Commission and the House of Lords House Committee have agreed to commission a comprehensive assessment, including costs, of three of the options identified by the Study Group. A final decision on the option to adopt would need to be made by both Houses in due course.
4. How much do you expect the project to cost in total?
Given the early stage of this project and the range of options under consideration, it is impossible to be specific about the costs, though they will be significant due to the Grade 1 Listed and World Heritage Site status of the Palace and the scale of the necessary works.. The House of Commons Commission and House of Lords House Committee will ensure that the option they pursue is the best value for money, involving a combination of the lowest-cost option and keeping Parliament functioning properly.
5. Why hasn’t any of this been done previously?
Parliament took over responsibility for the maintenance of the Palace of Westminster in 1992. Before that is was the responsibility of the Government.
There has been significant under-investment in the fabric of the Palace since at least the 1940s, when parts of the Palace were renovated following bomb damage in World War II. Other parts of the Palace have not undergone appropriate restoration since it was built in the mid 19th Century. In part, this can be explained by a reluctance to spend significant amounts of public money on restoration and renewal. That under-investment has resulted in a large backlog of major work and the current situation where the Palace of Westminster now requires significant restoration work.
Since 1992, when both Houses of Parliament took over responsibility for the maintenance of the Palace, the assumption has been that any restoration or renewal work must take place around sittings of Parliament. This approach to the work has permitted only the minimum essential maintenance and piecemeal replacement of systems at high risk of failure, but cannot support a long-term solution to the needs of this historic building.
The Palace of Westminster now requires significant restoration work to prevent major and irreversible damage. Given this situation, the House of Commons Commission and House of Lords House Committee have commissioned a comprehensive assessment of the options for completing a comprehensive restoration and renewal project right across the Palace of Westminster.
6. Does Parliament need to move out of the Palace?
The House of Commons Commission and House of Lords House Committee are commissioning the independent assessment of the agreed options to establish the best approach to the renovation work.
7. What environmental improvements will you make as part of this project?
Specific details of the environmental benefits the project will provide will be identified as the planning for the restoration and renewal project progresses and will be published online. However, it is anticipated that the renovations will provide significant benefits in terms of insulation, use of renewable energy, energy efficiency and reducing water usage. This is likely to reduce the costs of running Parliament in the Palace of Westminster, reduce Parliament’s carbon footprint and provide other environmental benefits.
8. How will you ensure the work doesn’t do lasting damage to the Palace of Westminster?
The restoration and renewal work will be undertaken sympathetically and with the cooperation of experts in conservation architecture. We will be applying for Listed Building approvals and liaising with, among others, English Heritage. The project will secure the vital cultural legacy of the Palace of Westminster for future generations.
9. What other organisations will you be engaging with as part of this restoration project?
We will engage with a number of stakeholders, including English Heritage, UNESCO and the public to seek their views on the project.
10. How will Parliament ensure value for money for the taxpayer?
The approach to restoration has yet to be decided, but it will involve the rigorous review of options and associated costs, and the application of appropriate procurement processes. Cost will be challenged at every stage, and there will be regular reviews of the project in line with the practice established by the government’s Major Projects Authority. In addition, all expenditure will be audited internally, and also externally by the National Audit Office.
11. Will Parliament apply for national/international grants to help fund this project?
As a publicly funded body, Parliament cannot apply for grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund or from private sources.
12. What involvement will UNESCO and English Heritage have in this project?
We will engage with English Heritage and UNESCO to seek their views on the project. Parliamentary officials already meet regularly with English Heritage inspectors, holding liaison meetings and conducting site visits.
13. What happens next? What is the parliamentary process for making a final decision on whether to go ahead with the restoration project?
A comprehensive, independent assessment of the agreed options will be undertaken to establish the best and most cost effective way to restore and renew the Palace of Westminster. This report will be published once it is completed. Any final decision to proceed with a comprehensive restoration and renewal programme would require the agreement of both Houses.