Houses of Parliament could face 'Notre Dame-style fire' as renovation costs skyrocket
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TL;DR
- The Palace of Westminster faces risks of a 'Notre Dame-style fire' or 'managed decline' due to delayed refurbishments.
- Each year of delay to the Restoration and Renewal programme adds £420 million to its lifetime costs.
- The weekly cost of maintaining the parliamentary estate is projected to rise from £1.5 million to £2 million.
- Two main renovation options are being considered: a 'full decant' (up to £15.6 billion, 24 years) or 'enhanced maintenance and improvement plus' (up to £39 billion, 61 years).
- Phase One of the programme, capped at £3 billion, focuses on temporary relocation of MPs and Lords, but temporary homes may not be ready by the projected 2032 start date.