Barking and Dagenham council hires Lord Kerslake to lead regeneration

Barking and Dagenham council today revealed it has hired the former head of the civil service, Lord Bob Kerslake, to help "put rocket boosters" on plans to build thousands of new homes in the east London borough.

The council's leader Darren Rodwell said Kerslake would chair the board of Be First, a new body to attract investment and encourage building in the area known for the Made in Dagenham movie.

Be First will be operational from the autumn and offer pre-planning services, as well as setting up joint ventures on property projects.

Speaking at property event Mipim, Rodwell said: "Lord Kerslake was a giant in central and local government and an expert in housing, and now he will be chairing what will be a regeneration giant."

He added that the appointment would help "put rocket boosters on our drive to make Barking and Dagenham a magnet for tens of thousands of affordable quality homes, and well paid jobs for ordinary, aspirational Londoners".

Peabody chairman Kerslake led the Department for Communities and Local Government from November 2010 to February 2015.

Prior he was the chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency.

He said today that Barking and Dagenham "promises huge opportunities for further growth".