Kew Gardens Launches Ambitious £60M Project to Future-Proof Historic Glasshouses

Image Credit: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew / ArcMedia

The iconic Palm House at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is preparing to close its doors for up to five years. The shutdown is part of an ambitious £60 million conservation project aimed at transforming the historic structure into one of the world’s first heritage glasshouses to reach net-zero emissions.

Alongside the nearby Waterlily House, the Palm House will undergo extensive renovations. Both buildings, which last saw major restoration work in the 1980s, are now showing clear signs of wear and age. According to Kew, the restoration is essential to preserve the integrity of these architectural landmarks and ensure their future preservation for future generations.

Work is scheduled to begin in 2027. Once it starts, the greenhouses will remain closed for the duration of the transformation, which could take up to five years to complete.

Initially constructed in 1848, the Palm House is home to an extraordinary collection of tropical and subtropical plants. The Waterlily House, opened in 1852, was built to showcase the giant Amazonian waterlily and remains one of Kew’s most beloved attractions.

The upcoming restoration will be far more than cosmetic. It involves replacing over 16,000 glass panes with high-performance sealed glazing to better regulate temperature and energy use. Custom silicone gaskets will be fitted to minimise heat loss. A new, fully electrified air and water source heat pump system will take over the building’s heating and cooling needs.

Richard Deverell, director of RBG Kew, said: “This is a pivotal moment in the history of Kew.

“With sustainability at the core of our mission, this project exemplifies our commitment to safeguarding both the environment and cultural heritage.

“The transformation of the Palm House and Waterlily House into net-zero icons will not only protect irreplaceable plants but serve as a beacon of what sustainable heritage can achieve.”

"At the heart of this project is the need to protect the extraordinary plant collections housed in the Palm House and Waterlily House."

Tom Pickering, head of glasshouse collections at RBG Kew

Kew is also planning to upgrade the rainwater collection and irrigation systems and will restore the original ornamental gardens and architectural details surrounding the glasshouses. The total cost is estimated at £60 million.

Behind the scenes, Kew’s horticulturists have already begun relocating and propagating the plant collections to protect them during the restoration. Two new glasshouses, one permanent and one temporary, have been constructed to house the plants while the historic structures undergo their transformation.

Inside the Palm House alone, there are around 1,300 plant specimens, many of which are rare and highly sensitive. Safeguarding them during the renovation is a key part of the project’s timeline and complexity.

This monumental effort is more than just a facelift. It’s part of Kew’s broader mission to combine botanical heritage with cutting-edge sustainability, setting a precedent for how historic buildings can evolve to meet modern environmental standards.

Tom Pickering, head of glasshouse collections at RBG Kew, added: “At the heart of this project is the need to protect the extraordinary plant collections housed in the Palm House and Waterlily House.

“Besides being beautiful, many have cultural, scientific and conservation value, and replacing these collections is unimaginable.

“Achieving net zero in these historic buildings is an unprecedented task, it’s a complex challenge which must consider the interplay of horticulture, climatic control, engineering and architecture.”