UK Parliament restoration faces £420 million annual delays

Delaying restoration of the Palace of Westminster could add between £320 million and £420 million a year to the final bill, the National Audit Office reported Monday. The Victorian neo-Gothic building, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes Westminster Abbey, has needed repairs for more than a decade.

Work has not begun because of concerns over costs estimated at tens of billions of pounds and the disruption of moving lawmakers to temporary quarters.

The building suffers from deteriorating mechanical and electrical systems, fire safety issues, and asbestos, the National Audit Office confirmed. Parliament currently spends about £1.5 million a week on maintenance.

A parliamentary body has outlined several restoration paths.

One phased approach would last 38 to 61 years and cost up to £39.2 billion. A full decant option would move both chambers out of the building for 19 to 24 years at a cost of up to £15.6 billion. Lawmakers in both houses must choose among the options, including one unlikely plan lasting 84 years, by mid-2030.

They have also been asked to approve initial seven-year restoration works costing up to £3 billion. The Great Clock and Big Ben bell completed a separate five-year restoration in 2022 at a cost of £80 million.