Birmingham regeneration chief quits to join Clive Dutton in London
Birmingham City Council’s regeneration department was plunged into a fresh crisis last night after it was confirmed that the man responsible for driving forward the Big City Plan project to mastermind redevelopment over the next 20 years has quit.
Philip Singleton has been head-hunted by Clive Dutton, the former acting strategic director of regeneration, who left to take a top job at the London borough of Newham last month.
Mr Dutton is leading Newham’s post-2012 Olympic Games regeneration strategy, and Mr Singleton will play an important role alongside him as Divisional Director for Major Sites around the Olympic Legacy.
After Mr Dutton’s departure Mr Singleton was regarded as the acting head of regeneration in Birmingham, under council chief executive Stephen Hughes, who was appointed in an overseeing role. The appointment of Mr Hughes, on top of his other duties, has already been the subject of claims that regeneration of the city centre in the teeth of the worst recession for decades is being sidelined.
A senior council employee, Mr Singleton was entrusted by council leader Mike Whitby to take responsibility for the Big City Plan, the first attempt to map out strategically the future expansion of the city centre within the outer ring road.
Mr Singleton said he would miss Birmingham, but was leaving to work for an “incredibly ambitious borough”.
He added: “I am very keen to make sure the Big City Plan keeps up its momentum and delivers what it promises.
