Clive Dutton accepts
Olympic challenge
The man who helped unlock the
regeneration potential of 'England's second city' is to help
continue the transformation of the Olympic host borough of
Newham.
Clive Dutton of Birmingham City Council will be joining
Newham as its new Executive Director for Regeneration, Planning and
Property. Mr Dutton will be responsible for managing the
unprecedented transformation of Newham which will occur before,
during and after the Games.
Newham Council's Chief Executive Joe Duckworth said: "Nowhere else
in the UK is undergoing transformation on the scale of Newham - and
it is not just about hosting the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic
Games.
"Our borough has huge potential for investment, growth and greater
prosperity with an abundance of land for development, excellent
transport links and a young, energetic and increasingly skilled
workforce.
"For Newham the only way is up and we are delighted to have someone
of Clive's calibre joining us."
Awarded the OBE in 1998, Mr Dutton joined Birmingham City Council
in 2005, and has since overseen a dramatic regeneration programme
within the city, unprecedented in its recent history.
While Birmingham has not been immune for the global recession,
projects such as £600m New Street Station £193m Library of
Birmingham, and Big City Plan, all developed during Mr Dutton's
tenure, have left it better placed for future growth than most of
its global competitors. Mr Dutton will lead Newham's new
Regeneration, Planning and Property department, for which the
council are currently recruiting four Divisional Directors.
Mr Dutton said: "There are very few jobs in the world that would
have enticed me away from Birmingham, a city I genuinely love, but
the draw of helping to shape the country's Olympic legacy was one I
simply could not turn down.
"I want to help ensure Newham maximises opportunities created by
the 2012 Games, Crossrail, London City Airport and Stratford
International Station, and am looking forward to the challenge of
making the sort of lasting difference to that area that the
Council's work in Birmingham is currently making.
"While I will be sad to leave Birmingham, I believe the momentum
of the regeneration programme we have established in recent years
will continue into the future, and I will take a keen interest in
seeing them brought to fruition."
Newham Council's Chief Executive Joe Duckworth said: "Nowhere else
in the UK is undergoing transformation on the scale of Newham - and
it is not just about hosting the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic
Games.
"Our borough has huge potential for investment, growth and greater
prosperity with an abundance of land for development, excellent
transport links and a young, energetic and increasingly skilled
workforce.
"For Newham the only way is up and we are delighted to have
someone of Clive's calibre joining us."
Mr Dutton, 56, has more than 30 years of senior experience working
in the planning and urban regeneration arena in public, private and
voluntary sectors.
He has worked as a special advisor on regeneration issues for
central government on the Urban White Paper and economic aspects of
the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland.
Mayor of Newham Sir Robin Wales said: "The balance of London is
moving eastwards and we must ensure the regeneration here will
always be for the benefit of local people. Clive will help us
support a dynamic local economy to which national and international
business is attracted, but where existing local businesses can also
prosper. We're delighted the best people want to be part of our
vision."