Leading expert appointed to turbocharge Euston housebuilding
Regeneration expert Bek Seeley will chair the government's Euston Housing Delivery Group.
- Yesterday’s Budget confirmed Bek Seeley will chair government’s Euston Housing Deliver Group to deliver ambitious Euston regeneration.
- Work begins immediately to support delivery of thousands of new homes and drive growth at the heart of the capital.
- Appointment supports government’s plan to deliver biggest increase in social and affordable housing in a generation.
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.
Yesterday’s 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.”
Leader of Camden Council, Cllr Richard Olszewski said:
“This commitment to deliver new and affordable homes in Euston, together with the local community, is a much-needed step forward to get Euston on track towards a better future.
“Not only have many families in Euston felt the impacts of the housing crisis, but they have lived through years of uncertainty and upheaval. They rightly deserve hope for the future and a Euston that delivers for them with job opportunities, affordable homes, new open spaces, and community facilities.
“At Euston, we also have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to achieve this alongside a rapid expansion of London’s Knowledge Quarter, transforming it into a tech and science powerhouse that generates investment and opportunity for the entire country. We look forward to working in partnership with the Housing Delivery Group, Government, and our residents to turn this opportunity into a reality.”
The government and the Mayor will be working hand-in-hand to ensure that London plays its part to deliver record levels of housebuilding and support ambitions for 1.5 million homes over this Parliament.
This includes working together on all possible steps to deliver the homes that London needs – and to meet the updated housing target for the capital that is more than double the delivery of recent years.
Deputy Mayor of London for Planning and Regeneration, Jules Pipe said:
“I am looking forward to working with Bek and the Euston Housing Delivery Group to ensure that we maximise Euston’s contribution to housing alongside delivering a world-class transport hub and supporting the development and growth of the Knowledge Quarter.
“The Mayor is committed to doing all he can to accelerate the pace of housing delivery in London. The unlocking of major sites such as Euston, which has been on hold for far too long has a vital part to play in delivering the growth we need. Leveraging the link between transport investment and housing, here and in other locations such as Thamesmead, will enable the delivery of new homes and jobs as part of building a fairer, greener and more prosperous London for everyone.”
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.
Further information
In Spring, the previous government and London Borough of Camden announced the establishment of the Euston Housing Delivery Group, tasked with assessing the scale of housing opportunities in the Euston area.
Bek Seeley was previously the European Managing Director for Development at Lendlease, which is a multinational construction and real estate company. She also holds several senior advisory roles in regeneration and affordable housing delivery. Bek is responsible for leading major housing projects across London, Manchester and Birmingham.