# Can Britain's Houses of Parliament Be Saved? ![[images/Can-Britains-Houses-of-Parliament-Be-Saved.webp]] **Creator:** The B1M · **Presenter:** Fred Mills (per end credits) · **Published:** 2026-08-19 · **Length:** 27:53 · [Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0K09HTPaKM) > Caption source: YouTube English (en-GB) manual captions via yt-dlp (default client), first attempt. Chapters from the video description; full written story on [theb1m.com](https://theb1m.com/video/the-race-to-save-parliament). Interviewee names and titles from the narration and on-screen lower thirds. Sponsored by Brilliant. ## Outline ### 0:00 The Stakes - **0:00** The Palace of Westminster is one of the world's most famous buildings, home of British democracy and an institution that dates back nearly a thousand years. It's also "on the brink of disaster". - **0:24** Years of underfunding and delay mean leaking roofs, broken heating and falling masonry. 200 years ago the old parliament burned down, "and there's every chance the same thing could happen again". - **0:46** Preview quote from Lord Roe: this is "the most complex historic building in this country, with the greatest fire loading, occupied by the largest amount of people on a daily basis". - **0:57** There is a plan, which would be one of the most impressive renovations on the planet, but any path forward will take years and cost billions while Britain's finances are stretched. "The billion-pound race to save the Houses of Parliament." ### 1:36 The Submarine - **1:39** Fred goes into the basement of the Palace of Westminster, the building's proper name. Normally a services area is orderly; here it has been dubbed **"the submarine"**. ![[images/Can-Britains-Houses-of-Parliament-Be-Saved-t0205.webp]] - **2:11** There are more than **400 km of cabling** across the estate, enough to stretch from London to beyond Paris: electrics, fibre optics, Wi-Fi and more, none of which existed when the palace was built. - **2:36** Old systems are hard to remove, so new ones get added and redundant ones left in place: about **150 years of "services sediment"**, steadily narrowing the corridor. That ad hoc approach plays out across the whole estate. - **3:00** About **£1.5 million a week** is spent patching up the palace, and even at that rate the building is in **"managed decline"**. - **3:20** Fred meets **Andy Piper**, design and engineering director, directly below **Central Lobby**, beneath what would be a busy Wednesday before **PMQs**. - **3:55** At an electrical distribution board, a **tray** has been installed purely to catch water dripping from the pipes above and steer it away from the electrics. Moving the pipes would be the proper fix, but access problems mean stripping out layers of pipes and wires, so this is a short-term fix while a permanent solution is developed. ![[images/Can-Britains-Houses-of-Parliament-Be-Saved-t0405.webp]] ### 4:40 Restoration and Renewal - **4:41** **Marie Goldman** MP sits on the board of **Restoration and Renewal (R&R)**, the body responsible for the palace's upkeep. Her word for the building: "Harry Potter world". She keeps expecting the staircases to move and never knows what's behind the doors. R&R matters because the building has to be safeguarded for future generations. - **5:33** In one of the main **steam pipe vaults**, Andy explains that in the **1850s** this was a single steam system tied into ventilation. Now it holds low- and high-voltage cabling plus steam pipes for the heating. In winter it's incredibly hot, and steam runs alongside cooling, so "they end up fighting each other". The biggest problem is that they've simply run out of space. - **6:12** Goldman: if the building started "literally crumbling into the Thames, what would that say about Britain?" - **6:30** Typical callouts: this winter part of the palace lost heating, plus lights going out and sewage leaks. The **original Victorian sewage ejector dates from 1888**. The in-house maintenance team "do a phenomenal job" keeping it running. - **6:56** The stonework is a soft **limestone quarried in Yorkshire**, chosen for its warm golden hue and because it's easy to carve. That also means it has little resistance to weather and pollution, and it's falling apart. - **7:27** Falling stone is a real danger in a busy complex: **19 incidents** of stonework falling off in the last **10 years**. - **7:44** **Sponsor: Brilliant.** Fred's "new PT", **Koji**, a personal tutor that asks guiding questions rather than handing over answers. Courses from fractions to calculus to coding, and 20% off an annual Premium subscription at brilliant.org/TheB1M. ### 9:49 The Fire Risk - **9:31** Maintenance crews carry out over **2,900 reactive maintenance jobs a month**, up **70%** in the last few years. - **9:51** Beyond leaking pipes and ageing toilets, the existential risk is **fire**. Fred talks to **Lord Roe**, who commanded the response to the **Grenfell Tower** fire and went on to be **Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade** (2020–2025 per the on-screen caption). - **10:14** Roe: the most complex historic building in the country, with the greatest fire loading and the most daily occupants. There's huge volumes of **wood panelling**, ageing **rubber wiring** hidden behind it, many **commercial kitchens** and continuous works on site, although he stresses the site is managed extremely well. - **10:52** There is **no imminent threat**: an extensive network of fire suppression, voice-activated alarms and a 24/7 response team keep it safe. But the cost and complexity of that protection keep growing, and there have been **36 fire incidents in the last 10 years**. The risk is low but never zero. - **11:20** On **Notre-Dame (2019)**, Roe says "100%" a similar thing could happen. He was once responsible for **20,000 listed buildings** in London, took the call about the roof of **Somerset House** being on fire, and sent people to Paris to learn from Notre-Dame. The palace is about **five or six times the size of Notre-Dame**, with irreplaceable paintings and architectural features. ### 11:58 The Palace Explained - **12:03** The palace isn't as old as it looks, by British standards. The original parliament **burned down in 1834**, and this structure was commissioned soon after. ![[images/Can-Britains-Houses-of-Parliament-Be-Saved-t1215.webp]] - **12:30** It is largely the work of architect **Charles Barry**. Work began in **1840**, mixing extravagant Gothic detailing with cutting-edge technology, including a **28,000 m² concrete raft foundation** up to **3 m thick**, a new innovation at the time. ![[images/Can-Britains-Houses-of-Parliament-Be-Saved-t1250.webp]] - **12:57** Layout: **Central Lobby** in the middle, leading to the **House of Commons** and **House of Lords** (hence "Houses of Parliament"). The **Elizabeth Tower** (home to **Big Ben**) is at the northern edge, and the **Victoria Tower**, built to house Parliament's archives, is at the other end. - **13:20** Both towers had vents at the top that drew air through the building with the help of a **steam-powered fan** in the basement, a clever form of natural ventilation. ![[images/Can-Britains-Houses-of-Parliament-Be-Saved-t1320.webp]] - **13:32** The site has over **1,100 rooms**: offices, committee rooms, hospitality venues, more than a few bars and, at one point, a rifle range. Much of the neo-Gothic ornament is by **Augustus Pugin**, who was obsessed with medieval architecture. - **13:52** Some parts really are old. **Cloister Court** dates from Henry VIII's time in the 16th century, and **Westminster Hall** from **1097**. Both survived the 1834 fire and were folded into the new estate. - **14:12** The palace was built in an era of supreme national confidence, designed to symbolise the "ancient and enduring" nature of Britain. "Ancient? Yes. Enduring? Well, that's up for question." - **14:37** Masonry has been falling off **since 1920** and replaced with stronger stone. In Cloister Court (from **1529**), Fred shows where **Charles I's death warrant** is believed to have been signed. The courtyard was restyled by Barry and Pugin, bombed in **WWII** (two sides blown out) and reconstructed in **1950**. - **15:24** Just after WWII was the closest the palace has come to a full refurbishment. The **Commons chamber was entirely rebuilt** after an air raid, and the Lords was repaired after being hit by a bomb that failed to explode. Some services, including the **heating still used today**, were upgraded, while the Victorian sewage system was left alone. - **15:54** Since then, masonry has had only sporadic attention, and the only other major restoration was the **Elizabeth Tower**, completed in **2025**. With no site-wide renovation, the palace suffered the fate of an ageing building in constant heavy use. - **16:19** Andy Piper: access is the problem. External work is easier, but internal work has to fit around **recess periods**, with the constant risk that Parliament is recalled and the chambers must be ready, which compresses what can be done in any one period. ### 16:48 The Plan - **16:48** "We're now in a worst-case scenario": fixing the basics while racing to stop the building from collapsing. The job falls to Restoration and Renewal, for a once-in-a-generation restoration. - **17:16** The programme covers palace-wide **masonry conservation** (repair what can be saved, replace what can't), fixing leaking roofs and repairing up to **3,800 windows**. - **17:38** Inside, **fresh-air ventilation** will reach about **80% of habitable rooms**, with temperature control and air conditioning in key areas. For the **one million visitors** a year, there will be a new **visitor entrance** and a purpose-built **education centre under Central Lobby**. ![[images/Can-Britains-Houses-of-Parliament-Be-Saved-t1800.webp]] - **18:08** The biggest change is out of sight. All existing services (the 1950s heating, the 1800s sewerage and hundreds of kilometres of cables) will be stripped out and reinstalled to a modern design. A new heating system will cut energy use by **40%**. - **18:28** The 1950s renovation also left the palace "riddled" with **asbestos**, and most of it will be removed. **Fire systems** will be rebuilt from scratch, with a new network able to seal off sections to stop flames and smoke from spreading. - **18:52** About **85% of the palace construction cost** is replacing services. Asbestos is closely tied to the services (it came in with the 1950s refurbishment), and conservation work and access mean pulling the building apart a lot. ### 20:02 Option 1: The Full Decant - **19:32** In **February 2026** a report asked for approval to start **phase one** immediately: developing two fully costed approaches while urgent preliminary work begins. The phase is capped at **£3 billion** and lasts **seven years**, to **2032**. - **20:04** **Full decant**: empty the entire palace and turn it into a construction site. The **Commons** would move to **Richmond House** and the **Lords** to the **Queen Elizabeth II Centre**. It would take **19–24 years** and cost **£8.4–11.5 billion**. ### 20:37 Option 2: EMI - **20:37** **Enhanced Maintenance and Improvement Plus (EMI Plus)**: the palace is split into **14 zones**, with staff, MPs and Lords moved out in phases for shorter periods, and about **30%** of the palace vacated at any one time. ![[images/Can-Britains-Houses-of-Parliament-Be-Saved-t2100.webp]] - **21:00** This takes longer and costs more: an estimated **38–61 years** and **£11.8–18.7 billion**. - **21:25** Why consider it? The total cost is higher, but spread over a longer period, so the day-to-day pressure on the public purse is lower. ### 22:18 Wrestling With a Decision - **21:51** The other reason is symbolism and tradition: ceremonial dress, the placing of the **mace**, the **State Opening of Parliament** and the door slammed in **Black Rod**'s face. These give the institution its legitimacy and could disappear under "the cold hard logic of an engineering programme". - **22:17** Goldman: most people understand why the money must be spent; it's the extent that's questioned. Many members are reluctant to leave under a full decant because they fear never coming back, personally or as an institution. - **22:56** R&R has no shortage of ambition. The question is whether political willpower can match it. - **23:12** History of indecision: planning began in **2012**. In **2018** Parliament voted to commit to a full decant. In **2022**, when full costs were presented, Parliament got cold feet and insisted on a **reset**. Indecision or reasonable scrutiny? Fred gives both sides. ![[images/Can-Britains-Houses-of-Parliament-Be-Saved-t2315.webp]] - **23:45** Down the road in Downing Street, the Chancellor juggles funding for the NHS, schools and defence, and now the restoration of a literal palace. Given Britain's record of megaprojects running over budget and late, many ask whether it's necessary. - **24:18** Lord Roe: "There is no do-nothing option, there is no no-cost option." Well over **80% of the works** must be done regardless, even if the building became a museum, because it still has to be made safe. The building already costs a lot, and not fixing it will cost more. - **24:51** It's a symbol of national history, and most citizens would want Parliament to stay there. "This is UK PLC... a kid growing up on an estate" owns it as much as a parliamentarian does. ### 25:50 A Symbol of Britain - **25:18** On **15 April 2019** a fire broke out at **Notre-Dame**, and it took **400 firefighters** nearly **three and a half hours** to bring it under control, as onlookers faced losing an ancient national symbol. - **25:45** In the nearly 1,000-year-old **Westminster Hall**, completed more than **60 years before Notre-Dame's construction began**, Fred reflects on how easy it is to take such buildings for granted until something shows how fragile they are. - **26:28** Securing the palace will be expensive and need political willpower and public support. Britain is "a pretty demoralised country right now", and it's easy to say just turn it into a museum, but that would raise more problems than it solves. - **26:57** The palace was designed to represent something grander than day-to-day politics: the enduring nature of Britain and its democracy. "We mustn't forget what it would mean to lose a symbol like that." - **27:26** Brilliant sponsor reminder and subscribe call. ## Things Mentioned ### Buildings, places & parts of the palace - **Palace of Westminster / Houses of Parliament**: over 1,100 rooms, 400+ km of cabling, about one million visitors a year, 28,000 m² concrete raft foundation up to 3 m thick, soft Yorkshire limestone facades. - **"The submarine"**: nickname for the cramped basement services corridors below Central Lobby. - **Central Lobby**, **House of Commons**, **House of Lords**: the core chambers. The Commons was rebuilt after WWII bombing. - **Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben)**: restoration completed 2025. **Victoria Tower**: built for Parliament's archives. Both had ventilation vents at the top. - **Westminster Hall** (1097) and **Cloister Court** (1529, Henry VIII era; believed site of signing Charles I's death warrant; bombed in WWII, rebuilt 1950). Both survived the 1834 fire. - Steam pipe vaults, electrical distribution boards with drip trays, the 1888 Victorian sewage ejector, 1950s steam heating. - **Richmond House** (proposed temporary Commons) and the **Queen Elizabeth II Centre** (proposed temporary Lords) under a full decant. - **Notre-Dame de Paris** (fire, 15 April 2019; 400 firefighters, about 3.5 hours), **Somerset House** (roof fire), **Grenfell Tower**. ### Engineering, maintenance & safety - About £1.5M a week of patching. "Managed decline". 2,900+ reactive maintenance jobs a month (up 70%). - 19 stonework falls in 10 years. Masonry falling since 1920. 36 fire incidents in 10 years. - Fire loading: wood panelling, ageing rubber wiring, commercial kitchens, ongoing works. Fire suppression, voice-activated alarms, 24/7 response team. - Original natural ventilation via tower vents and a steam-powered basement fan. - Asbestos introduced in the 1950s refurbishment, and most of it is to be removed. - R&R plan: masonry conservation, roof repairs, up to 3,800 windows, fresh-air ventilation to about 80% of habitable rooms, air conditioning in key areas, a new visitor entrance, an education centre under Central Lobby, full services replacement (about 85% of construction cost), heating with 40% lower energy use, and a compartmentalised fire system. ### Plans, money & politics - February 2026 report. Phase one capped at £3BN over seven years, to 2032. - **Option 1, full decant**: 19–24 years, £8.4–11.5BN. - **Option 2, EMI Plus (Enhanced Maintenance and Improvement Plus)**: 14 zones, about 30% vacated at a time, 38–61 years, £11.8–18.7BN. - Timeline: planning from 2012, 2018 vote for a full decant, 2022 reset. - Parliamentary traditions: ceremonial dress, the mace, the State Opening and Black Rod. Also PMQs (Prime Minister's Questions) and recess periods. - Competing spending pressures: the NHS, schools and defence. - **Brilliant** (Koji AI tutor): paid sponsor. Also *Mega Builds* by Fred Mills, the theb1m.com full story and Get Construction Talking. ## Biographies - **Fred Mills**: Co-founder of The B1M and presenter of this episode (end credits). Author of *Mega Builds*. - **Ian Parkin**: Producer (end credits). - **Jim Casey**: Video editor (end credits). - **Vince North**: Graphics (end credits). - **Victoria Gunn**: Production management (end credits). - **Andy Piper**: Design and engineering director on the Palace of Westminster restoration, who gives Fred the basement tour and explains the access constraints and the services and asbestos costs. - **Marie Goldman**: Member of Parliament who sits on the board of Restoration and Renewal. She calls the palace "Harry Potter world" and explains why some members fear a full decant. - **Lord Roe**: Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade 2020–2025 (on-screen caption), who commanded the response to the Grenfell Tower fire. He assesses the palace's fire risk and argues there is no do-nothing option. - **Charles Barry**: Architect of the present Palace of Westminster, begun in 1840 after the 1834 fire. - **Augustus Pugin**: Architect and designer obsessed with medieval architecture, responsible for much of the palace's neo-Gothic ornament. - **Henry VIII**: Tudor king associated with Cloister Court (16th century). - **Charles I**: King whose death warrant is believed to have been signed in Cloister Court. - **Restoration and Renewal (R&R)**: Body set up to deliver and care for the palace's restoration programme. - **Black Rod**: Parliamentary official who has the Commons door slammed in their face during the State Opening, cited as one of the traditions at stake. - **Brilliant**: Online learning platform (with the Koji tutor) and this episode's paid sponsor.