Managing director to be appointed to garden community role

One of the UK’s leading exponents of garden communities is to be appointed as managing director of North Essex Garden Communities Ltd (NEGC).

Richard Bayley, recently project director for the Manydown development and Western Basingstoke Garden City projects in Hampshire will join NEGC full time in December.

John Spence CBE, chairman of NEGC said: “Over the last two years the NEGC programme has continued to progress, receiving over £1m in funding from Government and gaining recognition for the innovative approach being taken.

“Our expectations and the vision we have set out is bold, and it follows that we have the best and most competent person at the helm and I am delighted that we have been able to attract someone of Richard’s calibre.

“Richard brings commercial expertise working both in the public and private sector, including direct experience of garden city projects from Hampshire, and has a deep commitment to the garden community principles that we are espousing.”

Prior to working on garden community projects, Mr Bayley worked for BAA, leading on strategic planning and development at Heathrow.

Richard said: “I am delighted to be joining a project which, while still at an early stage, has the potential to rewrite how we create communities of the future, delivering the right sort of housing where people want to live, but ensuring it comes with the infrastructure, jobs and services that we need and expect.

“The passion, enthusiasm and commitment of the four councils to garden city principles is striking, and I intend to focus on ensuring what this approach means in terms of actual delivery.

“While these proposed new communities are very much for future generations, they of course have an impact on people today. Housing will always be an emotive subject, and I look forward to meeting the many different groups and interested parties who will play a vital role in shaping the communities as the plans continue to develop.”