Mike Brown (Image: TfL)
Mike Brown, currently commissioner of Transport for London (TfL), is to become the chair of the shadow Delivery Authority Board, which will oversee the £4bn project to restore the Palace of Westminster.
Brown will be responsible for overseeing the biggest and most complex renovation of a heritage building ever undertaken in the UK. The governing bodies of both the House of Commons and House of Lords approved his appointment today (17 October 2019). He is expected to take up his new role as chair in May 2020.
The shadow Sponsor Body was established in 2018, to set the scope, budget and timescale of the Restoration and Renewal Programme, and oversee a Delivery Authority with the technical expertise to commission and execute the work.
Earlier this month, parliament passed The Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act 2019 which sets out in law how the work will be carried out under this two-tier governance system. The structure is similar to the 2012 London Olympics.
Brown first joined London Underground (LU) in 1989 and became chief operating officer in 2003. He left to run Heathrow Airport during a huge transformation and passenger improvement programme, and later returned as managing director of LU.
He said: “The Palace of Westminster is a symbol of our national identity which is recognised all over the world. So it is great honour to lead the work of restoring and renewing this architectural jewel at the heart of London.
“We face an immense and urgent task but delivering a home fit for our parliament for generations to come is a great prize and I’m eager to get started on delivering it.”
Liz Peace, chair of the shadow Sponsor Board, said: “I’m delighted that a leader of Mike’s stature and with such an impressive track record of delivery is joining us to tackle this great challenge.
“The Sponsor Board looks forward to drawing on his experience and working with him to make our most cherished historic listed building a safe, working home for our democracy.”
