UK Parliament warned of ‘catastrophic’ risks as renovation delays mount

The Palace of Westminster faces a growing risk of a “catastrophic event” if delays to its long-awaited restoration and renewal program are not addressed, a parliamentary committee has warned. In a report published Wednesday, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) highlighted the risks posed by continued delays to the renovation of the historic parliamentary estate, including a fire similar to the one that devastated Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.

The committee also warned that the House of Commons chamber could be plunged into darkness during the State Opening of Parliament, potentially disrupting the ceremony attended by King Charles III. The PAC estimated that weekly maintenance costs for the parliamentary estate are expected to rise from £1.5 million ($2 million) to £2 million ($2.6 million) in the coming years. It further warned that every year of delay to the restoration program could add up to £420 million ($550 million) to the overall cost of the project.

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, chair of the PAC, urged lawmakers to end disagreements over the program and decide on its future direction. “Each kick of the can down the road costs hundreds of millions in public money,” he said, calling on those seeking further delays to “imagine the blow suffered by the UK’s morale and reputation of some kind of catastrophic failure.” “A lack of action risks, for instance, the Chamber being plunged into darkness during the State Opening of Parliament,” Clifton-Brown added.

He also warned that continued delays could expose the Palace of Westminster to a Notre-Dame-style fire and other catastrophic risks. The report comes ahead of parliamentary votes expected to determine the future direction of the restoration program. The votes, initially expected earlier this year, have been delayed. Lawmakers voted in 2018 to leave Parliament to allow extensive repairs to be carried out, but disagreements have continued over whether the building should be vacated during the work.