Former Waltham Forest leader Clare Coghill has stepped up to head the board of Square Roots after three years as vice chair
Square Roots, the registered affordable housing provider set up by residential developer London Square, has appointed a new chair and additional board members.
Clare Coghill will head the board after serving as vice chair for the past three years, succeeding Simon Dudley, whose appointed term ended last autumn.
Coghill was the leader of the London Borough of Waltham Forest between 2010 and 2022. In 2014 she was made cabinet member for economic growth and high streets and was in charge of regeneration, planning and development.
Russel Lyons, Canary Wharf Group’s former chief financial officer, has been appointde vice chair.
Suki Jandu, the executive director of housing services at housing association Anchor, has joined Square Roots’ board as an independent non-executive member.
Square Roots’ managing director, Barbara Richardson, said: “Clare has made an invaluable contribution since joining the board and we look forward to her wise counsel as Square Roots continues its expansion and acceleration in delivery over the next five years, with a particular focus on customer engagement.
“We are also delighted that Russell Lyons and Suki Jandu are bringing their wealth of expertise to advise Square Roots, as it evolves into one of the capital’s leading affordable providers of high quality homes.”
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With the Greater London Authority (GLA) as an investment partner, Square Roots has secured more than £115m in grant funding for 1,527 dwellings as part of the Homes for Londoners Affordable Homes Programme.
Although established by London Square in 2021, the organisation remains independent with a separate board of governance. It was recently made an approved provider of affordable homes for the first time by the London Borough of Southwark.
After becoming a registered provider in 2022, Square Roots has 1,800 homes under construction and in the pipeline and aims to have 3,500 units under construction and/or ownership by the end of 2029.
London Square was bought by Aldar, the largest real estate group in Abu Dhabi, in December 2023 in a deal worth £230m.
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