Palace fit for a king

Elizabeth (Liz) Peace CBE has been appointed as the Chair of the shadow Sponsor Board of the Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster. The governing bodies of both the House of Commons and House of Lords approved her appointment on Monday 16 July.

Earlier this year, both Houses of Parliament agreed to temporarily vacate the Palace of Westminster to allow the increasingly urgent work on the building to be carried out in one single phase. They also agreed to establish an Olympicstyle Sponsor Board, set up through legislation, and Delivery Authority to manage the work.

Liz Peace joins four other industry figures, as well as seven Members of Parliament from both Houses, in making up the shadow Sponsor Board. The Board will own the budget, business case and scope of the restoration programme, and will be set up initially in shadow form and subsequently through legislation.

She has more than 35 years’ experience in government and the property sector, currently serving as Chair of the Government Property Agency, established to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Government Estate. She is also Chairman of the Mayor of London’s Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation, which manages the UK’s largest regeneration project, as well as being a former Chief Executive of the British Property Federation.