Russ MacMillan, a chartered mechanical engineer, is currently Director for Rail Infrastructure North and West at the Department for Transport where he is responsible for a £20bn portfolio of capital investment across Wales and the North and West of England.

As new chief executive of the Delivery Authority for both Houses of Parliament, he will lead the team of architects, engineers, project managers and specialist contractors who will help shape the future direction of the restoration work for the Houses of Parliament.

Mike Brown, Chair 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 Restoration and Renewal (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.”

The Delivery Authority is developing two options to deliver the Palace of Westminster restoration – a full decant option and a continued presence option – and Parliament’s Strategic Estates team are developing a third option – Enhanced Maintenance and Improvement – to deliver the works through the R&R Programme.

• Option 1: Full decant – Both Houses leave the Palace and relocate nearby on a  temporary basis while the majority of the works are completed.

• Option 2: 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.

• Option 3: 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.

Costed proposals for the three options are expected to be ready for presentation to both Houses of Parliament before the end of 2025.