A leading regeneration expert has been appointed as the Chair of a flagship government programme to drive growth and build thousands of new homes, in the heart of central London.
The Budget announced Bek Seeley, who has overseen major projects in London, Birmingham and Manchester, to chair the Euston Housing Delivery Group – which will drive forward an ambitious housing and regeneration initiative for the local area.
The scheme will also include supporting a thriving life sciences district which will bolster the area’s existing Knowledge Quarter which works on important scientific discoveries and technological advances.
The Delivery Group will be made up of industry experts in urban design, landscape architecture, affordable housing delivery and financing large-scale projects. Their core focus is to unlock more investment in Euston and drive economic growth across the capital.
Working closely with the local community in Euston, Camden Council, the Mayor of London and ministers, the Group will help the area become one of Europe’s leading hubs for life sciences and innovation and set out wider ambitions to tackle the capital’s housing crisis with a new era of affordable homes.
Housing and Planning Minister, Matthew Pennycook said: “The appointment of Bek Seeley as the Chair of the Euston Housing Delivery Group is an important milestone on the journey toward regenerating this historic London neighbourhood and supporting economic growth across the country.
“The Government will continue to work with the London Borough of Camden, the Mayor of London, and local partners and communities to accelerate the delivery of significant numbers of new homes and an expanded Knowledge Quarter alongside a much-improved Euston Station”.
The announcement comes as it was also confirmed HS2 trains will run to Euston, with funding provided for tunnelling to the central London terminus, catalysing private investment into the station and local area.
The Delivery Group’s work begins immediately in Euston. A housing site under-construction in Somers Town was recently visited by the Housing Minister to see first-hand the progress being made to transform the area and deliver a new economic hub where people want to live and work.
Chair of the Euston Housing Delivery Group, Bek Seeley said: “I’m hugely excited to be asked to chair the EHDG as we set about the task of delivering thousands of new homes to benefit the existing community and to also underpin growth in one of the world’s leading knowledge and life science districts.
“My ambition is that Euston provides safe and welcoming homes, ensuring that every resident feels secure and valued and that Euston is also a place that the UK is proud of on the world stage, driving our broader economy forwards.”
Alongside the Delivery Group, the New Homes Accelerator will see work across government and with the Mayor and boroughs to fast-track large sites in London to unlock more homes and offer direct support to speed up delivery.
A new housing package was also announced yesterday including £500 million in new funding for the Affordable Homes Programme – the biggest annual budget for affordable housing in over a decade which will support government efforts to deliver thousands of new homes in London and across the country.
