GLA manager seconded to Southwark to lead new Old Kent Road regeneration team

8 May 2017

Southwark Council has announced it is setting up a dedicated team to deliver the regeneration of one of London’s most famous thoroughfares – headed by the Mayor of London’s Strategic Planning Manager, Colin Wilson.

Colin has been seconded to the borough for two years and will lead the new team to provide planning and regeneration services to steer the regeneration of the Old Kent Road area, including the delivery of over 20,000 new homes, over 5,000 jobs and the extension of the Bakerloo Line.

Southwark Council has already show its ability in delivering large scale regeneration programmes such as Elephant and Castle, Canada Water and the Aylesbury Estate, but the Old Kent Road should develop into a project bigger than all of these put together.

Cllr Peter John, Leader of Southwark Council, said: “Southwark aims to turn the Old Kent Road into a collection of neighbourhoods of the highest quality. There will be a high proportion of affordable homes, great opportunities for employment, training and business development - everything that is needed for the prosperity and well-being of the new residents, plus substantial benefits for the surrounding areas in a large part of the borough.

“I welcome Colin to this secondment as a vastly experienced planner who will be able to inspire all of our team and our partners to deliver our vision for our residents.”

Colin said: “I am very pleased to be given the opportunity to lead the creation of a new part of Central London that has the potential to contribute so much to the people of Southwark and to London’s continued growth as a great world city. The area has significant and underutilised land assets, the redevelopment of which could provide large numbers of homes and new jobs in an exemplary urban environment and the means to deliver the Bakerloo Line extension to Old Kent Road and beyond into Lewisham.

“There has been a lot of talk about “Smart Cities” and Southwark has recognised the potential to be pioneering in the way in which it plans for and engages with local communities, developers and the broader public sector, and I have been very lucky to have been given the chance to help Southwark deliver on these ambitions.”

Colin will provide a wealth of experience from leading the Mayor’s involvement in projects of a similar scale at Old Oak Common, Vauxhall/Nine Elms/Battersea and King’s Cross.

Page last updated: 08 May 2017