A new chief executive has been appointed to lead the restoration of the Houses of Parliament.
Russ MacMillan will head up the Delivery Authority which is designing and delivering the Restoration and Renewal (R&R) Programme for the Palace of Westminster.
Currently, MacMillan is director for rail infrastructure North and West at the Department for Transport (DfT), responsible for a £20 billion portfolio of capital investment across Wales and the North and West of England.
He has led major programmes in the defence, transport and early-stage technology sectors, and worked across a range of product related, commercial, and business transformation programmes in the public and private sectors.
He will be leading the architects, engineers, project managers and specialist contractors doing the restoration work.
He said: “I am delighted to be joining the R&R Delivery Authority at such a crucial time as it further develops two of the three proposals for restoration of the Palace in a way which will benefit the whole of the UK.
“I am excited to be working with talented colleagues from across the Delivery Authority and Parliament to build on their significant progress and to support decision making on how best to renew this unique and internationally recognised building.”
Tanya Coff, CFO, is acting as interim CEO until MacMillan takes up the post in mid-February 2025.
She has been leading the Delivery Authority since the departure of previous CEO, David Goldstone, in August.
The Delivery Authority and Parliament’s Strategic Estates are developing three options to deliver the restoration:
- Option 1: Full decant – Both Houses relocate nearby on a temporary basis while most of the works are completed.
- Option 2: Continued presence – A continued presence of HoC Chamber and essential support functions; temporary relocation of the House of Lords and other HoC functions.
- Option 3: Enhanced maintenance & improvement – Delivered as part of a rolling, sequenced, programme of works, with some relocation required.
Costed proposals are expected before the end of 2025.
Mike Brown, chairman of the Delivery Authority, said: “As we move into the next year, the Delivery Authority has important work to deliver. We will continue to work closely with Parliament to further develop two of the three options outlined in the Strategic Case for the R&R Programme.
“Our focus is also on progressing plans for early works to ensure that the benefits from R&R can be delivered as quickly as possible, and continuing building surveys and investigations to increase further our understanding of the Palace.”
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