Barnet chops key directors

Planning, 27 March 2009

The jobs of West Hendon estate regeneration project director Roger Arkell and Stonegrove and Spur Road estates regeneration project director Andrew Westcott are to be merged. Both have now been invited by the council to reapply for the newly created position of head of regeneration.

Labour MP for Hendon Andrew Dismore condemned the move. "It is absolutely disgraceful," he said. "All three regeneration schemes are at a critical point."

The West Hendon estate will see 2,171 homes built by Metropolitan Housing Trust and Barratt Homes. Barratt will also help to build 937 homes in the Stonegrove and Spur Road estates.

Meanwhile, London mayor Boris Johnson has confirmed his support for another key element of Barnet's Three Strands regeneration strategy - the £4 billion regeneration of Brent Cross Cricklewood. He has written to the council offering his support in principle, but has also highlighted concerns that his office has on its section 106 deal.

The application will be referred back to the mayor for a final decision once the team behind the plan - a partnership comprising Hammerson, Standard Life and Brookfield Europe - has taken the mayor's comments on board.

The local authority's Three Strands strategy is a ten to 15-year regeneration programme covering four of Barnet's largest estates.