Simon Thurley, a distinguished architectural historian, heritage expert and leader of major heritage restoration programmes, has served as a valued member of the Delivery Authority Board since 2020 and will now lead the organisation’s Board.

Dr. Thurley has been deeply involved in the Restoration and Renewal Programme since its inception, serving as a Non-Executive Director of the Delivery Authority and previously as a heritage expert on the former Sponsor Board. His expertise in managing complex heritage projects, coupled with his deep understanding of the Palace of Westminster, will be instrumental in guiding the organisation as it continues its vital work to help plan and deliver restoration and renewal.

Of his appointment, Simon Thurley said: 

“I am honoured to take on the role of Chair at such a pivotal time for the Restoration and Renewal programme. The year ahead will be crucial as we work towards a decision on the best way forward to protect and renew the Palace of Westminster for generations to come. With my background in history, heritage and major heritage restoration projects, I am immensely committed to this work – both for today and for future generations. I would like to pay tribute to Mike Brown for his leadership and dedication, which have been instrumental in laying the foundations for this next phase of the project.”

Mike Brown CBE MVO steps down after a successful tenure as Chair, since May 2020, having overseen significant progress in planning for the restoration of the historic building.

Further information on the new Chair

Dr. Simon Thurley CBE is a leading historian, writer, and heritage expert with extensive experience managing major historic conservation projects and national heritage organisations. He has spent over 30 years working in the protection, interpretation, and management of historic sites and has played a key role in shaping the UK’s heritage sector.

Dr. Thurley has been involved in some of the biggest, most complex and challenging heritage construction and restoration projects that the UK has faced in the last 20 years. His leadership experience includes serving as Chief Executive of English Heritage for 13 years, where he oversaw the conservation and management of over 400 historic sites, from Stonehenge to Dover Castle. He was Chair of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, responsible for distributing hundreds of millions of pounds to protect the UK’s most significant heritage assets, and led the organisation through a major strategic review. He has also served as Director of the Museum of London and held senior roles at Historic Royal Palaces.  

Dr. Thurley is the author of thirteen books, including The Building of England – a comprehensive history of English architecture, the second edition of which will be published later this year – and Houses of Power and Palaces of Revolution, which explore the role of royal residences in the Tudor and Stuart courts. His writing has made significant contributions to the understanding of historic buildings and their place in British history.  

Dr. Thurley is also well known for his television work, having presented numerous history and heritage programmes, including The Buildings That Made Britain and Lost Buildings of Britain, bringing the stories of historic places to a wide audience.  

Background about the Restoration and Renewal Programme

The Palace of Westminster is an internationally recognised symbol of the UK and democracy, and part of a UNESCO world heritage site. Extensive, complex work is needed to restore the Palace and allow it to continue to serve as the home of the UK’s Parliament for generations to come. The Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act was passed in 2019 to establish the R&R Delivery Authority to take this work forward. 

The Palace is enormous, covering 34 acres and with 1100 rooms. There are 65 different floor levels and 100+ staircases. The whole building shares the same water, power, heating, and sewage systems, many of which are 50+ years old and have reached the end of their lifespan. Hundreds of miles of pipes and cables need replacing, and interconnecting voids and ventilation shafts add to the complexity of removing services and managing asbestos.     

Parliamentary teams undertake a range of ongoing work across the Estate to invest in and maintain its buildings. All this work is about supporting the continued business of Parliament, by making the Estate a safe, resilient, and fit for purpose environment to work in and visit.    

The R&R Programme is overseen by a joint department of the two Houses of Parliament known as the R&R Client Team. The Client Team has a two-tier governance structure, with the R&R Client Board – made up of the Commissions of both Houses – providing strategic direction and the R&R Programme Board overseeing the project on a day-to-day basis.   

In March 2024, the Client Board published a Strategic Case setting out three options to take forward for further work. Costed proposals for these options are currently being developed for presentation to Parliament later in 2025 to support decisions by MPs and peers. The costed proposals will include detailed information to support evidence-based decisions by both Houses. This will include information on the risks - and mitigations of those risks - involved with delivering each option, as well as robust information on the costs and benefits of each option, to help Members take an informed decision on the preferred way forward for R&R.    

The options are:    

• Full decant - Both Houses leave the Palace and relocate nearby on a temporary basis while the majority of the works are completed.
• Continued presence - A continued presence of the House of Commons Chamber and essential support functions in the Palace throughout the works. Temporary relocation of the House of Lords and other House of Commons functions
• Enhanced maintenance and improvement - Enhanced maintenance and improvement of the Palace delivered as part of a rolling, sequenced, programme of works. Some relocation will be required depending on the work.   

In July 2022 Members of both Houses endorsed the Joint Report from the Commissions of both Houses which recommended prioritising safety critical work including:

• Fire safety and protection;   
• Replacement of mechanical, electrical, drainage and plumbing, and data and communications systems;   
• Asbestos management and wider health and safety issues;    
• Conservation of the building fabric including stonework  

Members of both Houses also recognised the Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act 2019 requires the R&R Programme to have regard to a number of further areas of scope for the works, including:

• The need to ensure the Palace is accessible to people with disabilities;   
• The need for improved visitor access;   
• The need to ensure that educational and other facilities are provided for people visiting    
• The need to protect the environment and to contribute to achieving sustainable development;   
• The special architectural, archaeological and historical significance of the Palace of Westminster;
• The need to ensure that opportunities to secure economic or other benefits of the Parliamentary building works are available in all areas of the UK. 

Restoring and renewing the Palace will directly benefit the one million people who visit every year and the thousands who work here every day, including MPs and Peers, by delivering a greatly improved building, with better accessibility, more reliable services and enhanced health and safety.

Restoring the building will be a significant, multi-billion pound investment in the building and our national heritage. The work will support growth and jobs, and we will need skilled workers from across the UK. We've been undertaking a huge amount of in-depth surveys, in order to inform future decisions for the restoration of the Palace. Parliament already spends £1.45m a week to repair and maintain the Palace.   

It is anticipated that costed proposals for all three delivery options will be ready for Parliament to consider before the end of 2025.    

Background on the Restoration and Renewal Delivery Authority

The Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act 2019 (as amended) established the original mandate to restore and renew the Palace of Westminster. The Act provided for the establishment of the Restoration and Renewal Delivery Authority to design and deliver the restoration and renewal works, overseen, scrutinised and instructed by the R&R Client Team. 

The Delivery Authority also works increasingly closely with Parliament’s Strategic Estates team, who are responsible for delivering ongoing investment in the Estate ahead of R&R, developing and delivering plans for any future temporary accommodation needed for the House of Commons, and for developing the enhanced maintenance and improvement option.