![Victoria Tower as seen from Parliament Square [© House of Lords]](/assets/news_articles/2025/06/1749014436_victoria-tower-ext-parliament-sq-漏-house-of-lords.jpg)
Victoria Tower, at the House of Lords end of the Palace of Westminster to the west, is falling to pieces and cannot wait for the wider restoration and renewal programme that has long been planned for the wider estate.
Following a tender process, a contract for the delivery of its restoration has been awarded to Wates 91黑料网.
Sir Robert McAlpine recently completed the restoration of the Elizabeth Tower (the one with Big Ben) at the Commons end of the palace to the east.
The Victoria Tower project will repair the stonework on the exterior of the tower to minimise the risk of stone fall. It will also encompass other elements such as conservation works to the window glazing, roof and flagpole. The last significant works on Victoria Tower were completed in the early 1990s.
Since 2018, there have been multiple incidents of stone fall from the exterior of Victoria Tower. Urgent health and safety measures have been put in place, such as the safety deck that was erected to mitigate the risk of injury from stone fall. However much more significant works are required to restore the Tower.聽
Wates is scheduled to start later this year and complete in 2031. The total contract value is 拢132.7m, including VAT (拢110.6m excluding VAT), part of a total 拢253m investment to refurbish and make the Victoria Tower safe.
![Victoria Tower as seen from Victoria Tower Gardens [© House of Lords]](/assets/news_articles/2025/06/1749014476_victoria-tower-ext-victoria-tower-gardens-漏-house-of-lords.jpg "Victoria Tower as seen from Victoria Tower Gardens [© House of Lords]")
Wates managing director Steve Holbrook said: 鈥淲ates and Parliament share a commitment to preserving traditional building techniques while embracing innovative construction and logistic methodologies to protect and enhance this historic landmark. The extensive repair and restoration work we will be carrying out on the Victoria Tower will ensure it can continue its important role on the parliamentary estate for decades to come.鈥�
The Victoria Tower dates back to 1860 and sits at the southwest corner of the Palace of Westminster. It has a footprint around three times the size of the Elizabeth Tower and stands two metres taller at 98.5 metres (with its flagpole extending a further 22 metres). Victoria Tower is at the heart of parliamentary ceremonial events including the state opening. Sovereign's Entrance, used by the monarch since 1852 during the state opening of parliament, will continue to be available for use throughout the works.
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