In brief
Speaker Lindsay Hoyle warned that every year the Palace of Westminster lags behind can cost taxpayers hundreds of millions. The multi‑billion‑pound overhaul, potentially lasting up to 61 years, faces hurdles from the Act of Parliament and missing fire‑suppression measures.
London, Britain – On 7 November 2026, Speaker Lindsay Hoyle took to the Commons floor to express frustration with the slow pace of the multi‑billion‑pound refurbishment of the Palace of Westminster.
Hoyle said the "act of Parliament prevents you carry[ing] out the major repairs that you need to," and that the process has turned "putting ourselves in handcuffs" as the work is bogged down by lengthy survey stages.
The restoration, estimated to cost up to 40 billion pounds (about 53 billion U.S. dollars), could take as long as 61 years to complete, according to figures cited by Parliament’s public‑accounts committee.
Per the committee’s statements, each additional year of delay costs taxpayers an estimated £420 million (roughly 561 million U.S. dollars).
In a related briefing, the public‑accounts committee warned that the delay period could be "crunch time" for the building, and highlighted the risk that the Palace could become vulnerable to a fire that might mirror the 2019 blaze at Notre‑Dame.
Hoyle continued to question why a fire‑suppression mist system had still not been installed throughout the building, despite his repeated calls for the technology as early as last year.
He added that the "biggest frustration" in the restoration effort was the failure to "get on with the work," suggesting that procedural obstacles are preventing necessary repairs from progressing.
While officials have not yet set a new, firm timeline for completion, the current projection—including the very long duration and escalating costs—has sparked concerns among MPs and the public alike.
There remain significant gaps in the official plan, including the lack of a definitive schedule for the installation of the fire‑suppression system, the legal framework that may restrict repair work under the current Act of Parliament, and the specific steps required to accelerate the process.
In closing, the sources underline that the future of the Palace – whether within the predicted 61‑year course or a different trajectory – remains uncertain, with projected costs rising, fire safety measures delayed, and legal restrictions unresolved.
