A parliamentary committee has warned that the Palace of Westminster could be at risk of a catastrophic fire similar to the Notre Dame blaze unless urgent decisions are taken on funding and carrying out extensive restorations.
Costs and immediate measures
The committee’s report says the cost of keeping the historic building safe could rise to about £2 million a week. That figure includes expenses for measures such as 24-hour patrols designed to reduce the risk of fire while the wider programme of works remains unresolved.
Heritage status and delayed decisions
The Palace of Westminster, a Grade I‑listed building and a UNESCO world heritage site, requires a full restoration. However, decisions over when and how to begin that restoration have been repeatedly postponed amid disagreement among MPs about the scope and method of the work and as estimates have spiralled.
Urgency and implications
The committee urged parliamentarians to confront the funding and logistical questions so the restoration can proceed, warning that inaction leaves the building and its occupants exposed to heightened risk. Without agreement on a long-term plan and secure financing, the report suggests, short-term mitigation will become increasingly costly and potentially insufficient to prevent major damage.