Sir Peter Trench
Sir Peter Trench CBE, TD, BSc., Hon FCIOB, Hon FRIBA was a trained economist, builder and industrialist who worked to modernise the post-war construction industry in the UK. He was awarded an OBE in 1945, a CBE in 1964 and was knighted in 1979.
He was born in London on 16 June 1918, son of Lt-Col. James Knights Trench an American-born entrepreneur and managing director of the Sandoz Chemical Company Limited, and his Scottish wife Grace Sim of Bradford. He studied at the London School of Economics, London University and St John’s College, Cambridge and served in the Queen’s Royal Regiment from 1939 to 1946. He married Mary St. Clair Morford in 1940.
Peter Trench fought Bradford Central as a Liberal in 1945 but finishing third and did not stand again.
He was Managing Director of Bovis Ltd, 1954-59; Chairman of the Construction and Housing Research Advisory Council, 1973-79 and Chairman of Y.J. Lovell Holdings plc, 1972-83. He was also a member of the Council of the CBI, president of the National House Building Council and Director of the National Federation of Building Trades Employers, 1959–64.
He died on 10 September 2006 aged 88.
[edit] Papers by Peter Trench on Designing Buildings Wiki include:
Featured articles and news
A case study and a warning to would-be developers
Creating four dwellings for people to come home to... after half a century of doing this job, why, oh why, is it so difficult?
Reform of the fire engineering profession
Fire Engineers Advisory Panel: Authoritative Statement, reactions and next steps.
Restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster
A complex project of cultural significance from full decant to EMI, opportunities and a potential a way forward.
Apprenticeships and the responsibility we share
Perspectives from the CIOB President as National Apprentice Week comes to a close.
The first line of defence against rain, wind and snow.
Building Safety recap January, 2026
What we missed at the end of last year, and at the start of this...
National Apprenticeship Week 2026, 9-15 Feb
Shining a light on the positive impacts for businesses, their apprentices and the wider economy alike.
Applications and benefits of acoustic flooring
From commercial to retail.
From solid to sprung and ribbed to raised.
Strengthening industry collaboration in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Institute of Construction and The Chartered Institute of Building sign Memorandum of Understanding.
A detailed description from the experts at Cornish Lime.
IHBC planning for growth with corporate plan development
Grow with the Institute by volunteering and CP25 consultation.
Connecting ambition and action for designers and specifiers.
Electrical skills gap deepens as apprenticeship starts fall despite surging demand says ECA.
Built environment bodies deepen joint action on EDI
B.E.Inclusive initiative agree next phase of joint equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) action plan.
Recognising culture as key to sustainable economic growth
Creative UK Provocation paper: Culture as Growth Infrastructure.
Futurebuild and UK Construction Week London Unite
Creating the UK’s Built Environment Super Event and over 25 other key partnerships.
Welsh and Scottish 2026 elections
Manifestos for the built environment for upcoming same May day elections.
Advancing BIM education with a competency framework
“We don’t need people who can just draw in 3D. We need people who can think in data.”
























