Former civil service head to oversee £3bn plan to develop on council-owned land in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Lord Bob Kerslake has been appointed chair of a local-authority owned regeneration company that is aiming to drive £3bn worth of development.

The former head of the civil service this week took over as chair of FuturePlaces, which is wholly-owned by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council.

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Lord Bob Kerslake, is a crossbench peer, chair of Peabody and former head of the civil service

FuturePlaces, launched last year is tasked with accelerating regeneration on council-owned sites.

Philip Broadhead, deputy leader and cabinet member for regeneration, development and growth at BCP Council, said: “We have an extremely talented team in FuturePlaces fostering the long-term ambition of our place as we unlock £3bn’s worth of gross development potential across council-owned sites.

“In less than a year we have moved into the delivery stage as projects come before the council for consideration.”

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Lord Kerslake has previously served as head of the civil service, permanent secretary at the Department for Communities & Local Government, chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency and before that chief executive of Sheffield City Council.

He chairs housing association giant Peabody and Be First, Barking & Dagenham Council’s housing company. Lord Kerslake is also an occasional columnist for Housing Today.