A time for renewal
6 min read
The Palace of Westminster is falling apart faster than it can be fixed, and we are at risk of a catastrophic failure. But the Restoration and Renewal team are ready with a plan for the biggest and most complex renovation of a historic building ever undertaken in the UK, writes Sarah Johnson
In the eyes of millions of people the world over the Palace of Westminster is one of the most powerfully evocative images of British national identity.
As we prepare to leave the European Union and our country turns a new and resolute face to the world in 2020, it will be an even more important element of our global brand.
Charles Barry’s neo-Gothic masterpiece, built around Westminster Hall, is the fifth most recognisable building or landmark in the world. But sadly, though, the Instagram image is in much better condition than the fabric of the building.
The Palace has been neglected for decades. After the Commons Chamber was destroyed in the worst night of the Blitz in 1941, Winston Churchill fulfilled his vow to rebuild it as the citadel to British liberty. But until recently, no prime minster since Churchill had wanted to grasp the nettle and secure its long-term future.
Today the Palace is falling apart faster than it can be fixed. But last year, as the fire at Notre Dame gave new urgency to the mission to save Parliament for future generations, Members passed the Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act and now the project is really picking up momentum.
Anyone arriving to work on the Parliamentary Estate could be forgiven for thinking that wholesale refurbishment has already begun. A clock face peeps from behind a shroud of scaffolding on the Elizabeth Tower; and much of the rest of the estate is hidden by tarpaulins. But what you see are only the most urgent projects – the ones that simply couldn’t wait.
There’s a growing catalogue of repairs with which we simply can’t keep up. Since 2017 there have been over 40,000 maintenance issues reported on the Palace, and the deepest problems have yet to be tackled.
All the heating ventilation, water drainage and electrical systems are antiquated. Asbestos is hidden in thousands of places. Steam systems, gas lines and water pipes are laid on top of each other, alongside high voltage cables. Pollution is causing extensive decay to stonework. All this means we face a growing risk of catastrophic failure.
Make no mistake, this will be the biggest and most complex renovation of a historic building ever undertaken in the UK. It will require engineering and construction capability beyond anything Parliament has seen since the estate was rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1834.
Even though the major building work on the Palace of Westminster might not start for five years, big decisions are being made now.
This year will be momentous because so much needs to be done in advance – surveys, investigations and designs. And, of course, we need to create temporary homes for both Houses when everyone leaves the Palace.
“All the heating, drainage and electrical systems are antiquated. Asbestos is hidden in thousands of places. Gas lines and water pipes are laid on top of each other, alongside high voltage cables. All this means we face a growing risk of catastrophic failure”
In 2018 Parliament decided to create independent bodies to manage the Programme, similar to the 2012 London Olympics: a Sponsor Body to set the scope, budget and timescale, and a Delivery Authority to commission and execute the work.
As chief executive of the Sponsor Body, I lead the team overseeing this project, to ensure it provides a fit working home for our Parliament for decades to come and delivers value for money to the taxpayer.
Before we can start renovation work on the Palace in the mid-2020s, we must design, plan and build temporary homes for the Commons and Lords.
In 2020 we could see the first boots on the ground working on the creation of the temporary Commons, in Richmond House, on Whitehall. Planning applications were submitted to Westminster Council last year covering eight buildings on the Northern Estate and a decision is expected in months.
Later this year we also expect to submit planning applications to make a temporary home for the Lords in the QEII Conference Centre, near Parliament Square.
Those who use the Parliamentary Estate will notice the new sense of purpose after so many years of deliberation. Teams will be busy making checks on the Palace – everything from air quality to energy performance analysis. This essential work will inevitably cause some disruption. So please bear with us as we do our very best to minimise disturbance.
And on the Northern Estate, construction and survey work will continue through 2020 and beyond. As a preliminary step to allow these buildings to be refurbished, some Members and their staff will need to move from affected offices. This is expected to start this summer, with moves from Norman Shaw North and 53 Parliament Street.
To get Restoration and Renewal right, it is vital that we listen to our stakeholders. We will be calling upon Members for their input, so they can continue to help shape the future of the Palace. Our engagement team will give them lots of opportunities to be involved.
A wave of important issues will compete for the attention of Members, new and returning. But I urge them to spare a thought for the future of this unique building and its role in our nation’s history. And to get involved where they can. I also see the Restoration and Renewal Programme as an enormous opportunity for the whole country – a chance to display our British optimism and ingenuity on many fronts.
This infrastructure project will be truly national, one that will benefit regions across the UK.
Parliament already looks to the talented regions for its specialist help. Encaustic tiles from Ironbridge; cast iron roof tiles from Halifax, Sheffield and Chard; limestone from Doncaster and Clipsham; slate from Ffestiniogg, north Wales. The list goes on.
The Palace may be in the heart of London but I want all corners of the country to unleash their potential, and be proud of their part in helping Parliament regain its majesty for the 21st century.
The project will strengthen the Union of the four nations by supporting the creation of thousands of jobs in construction, engineering, design, and IT, as well as attracting those with specialist skills in carpentry, stonemasonry, metalwork, heritage conservation and others. All this will require investment in training and apprenticeships and lead to a skills legacy that will benefit the economy for years to come.
The vision of the project is to transform the Houses of Parliament to be fit for the future as the working home for our Parliamentary democracy, welcoming to all and a celebration of our rich heritage. In 2020 we’re starting to make it a reality.
Sarah Johnson is the chief executive of the Houses of Parliament Restoration and Renewal Programme shadow Sponsor Body.
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