Delays to giving the House of Parliament a makeover could cost taxpayers nearly £500 million. Since 2013, MPs have been calling for major restoration work to start on the crumbling Palace of Westminster. It costs us £1.5 million a week in repairs and maintenance to fix failing electrical and mechanical systems, sewage and asbestos. Under recent proposals, renovations could take between eight and 61 years, with the latter option costing more than £39 billion.