Tristram Hunt, director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, has expressed serious concerns about the possible demolition of the Palace of Westminster. This is stated in his material. Financial Times.
Built in neo-Gothic style by renowned architects Charles Barry and Augustus Welby Pugin, this historic 19th-century palace is the seat of the British Parliament. One of its three towers, the Elizabeth Tower, houses the famous Big Ben bell.
Hunt noted problems such as the smell of damp, the presence of rats and mice, damage to stonework, the constant risk of fire due to old electrical wiring, asbestos content and a general atmosphere of “disgusting decay”.
A pre-feasibility study was conducted in 2012, showing the need for a “foundational renovation” of the building. In 2015, auditors estimated that the cost of a full renovation of the palace was £5.7 billion (more than $9 billion at the time) and that it would take 32 years if MPs were evicted. If MPs stay in the building, the renovations will cost £22bn and take 76 years.
Although plans have been proposed for a major £7bn to £13bn palace refurbishment that would close for 12 years in 2022, plans have been stalled for now. Hunt has proposed private funding over 20 years to restore Parliament House, similar to what was done for the 2012 Olympics.
The museum director called on MPs not to delay the decision to renovate the palace. He said he hoped the building would be renovated in time for the 200th anniversary of the 1834 fire that previously destroyed the building.
As the Palace of Westminster is being renovated, a proposal has been put forward to build a new Houses of Parliament in London with a transparent futurist-style façade. A temporary modular structure on the River Thames is also being considered as an option.
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