A former Lendlease boss and ‘regeneration expert’ is set to lead the Government’s London Euston regeneration.
Bek Seeley, former managing director of development Europe at Lendlease, has been confirmed as chair of the Euston Housing Deliver Group.
Seeley has worked on the development and delivery of large-scale transformation projects, including major projects in London, Birmingham and Manchester, for nearly 10 years at Lendlease.
Prior to that, Seeley served as European CFO at infrastructure consulting firm AECOM.
She has been appointed as chair of the programme to help drive growth and build thousands of homes around the HS2 Euston terminus, which Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed in the budget on Wednesday.
The extension of HS2 from Old Oak Common to the Euston Terminus is expected to cost around £1 billion, with funding provided for tunnelling to the central London terminus, catalysing private investment into the station and local area.
The regeneration scheme will also include supporting a new life sciences district to help bolster the area’s existing ‘Knowledge Quarter’ which works on scientific discoveries and technological advances.
The Delivery Group is set to be made up of industry experts in urban design, landscape architecture, affordable housing delivery and financing large-scale projects, focusing on unlocking more investment in Euston.
The Group aims to work closely with the local community in Euston, Camden Council, the Mayor of London and ministers, to make the area ‘one of Europe’s leading hubs for life sciences and innovation’ and tackle the capital’s housing crisis.
Alongside the Group, the New Homes Accelerator aims to fast-track large sites across London to unlock homes and offer direct support to speed up delivery.
The regeneration of Euston Station is expected to contribute £41 billion to the UK economy by 2053, create 34,000 new jobs, according to a report by Camden Council.
Seeley said: “I’m hugely excited to be asked to chair the EHDG.
“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.”
Housing and planning minister, Matthew Pennycook said: “This 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”.
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