North Northants Development Company’s (NNDC) has today announced that Bob Lane is to step down as its Chief Executive.

After six years leading regeneration and housing growth programmes in the North Northamptonshire area, Bob Lane leaves NNDC to explore new opportunities in housing and regeneration and will continue to sit on the Board of the influential National Housing and Planning Advice Unit (NHPAU).

Integral to the creation of a single delivery body for North Northamptonshire, Bob Lane has led NNDC since its inception in May 2006, co-ordinating the significant headway that has been made in terms of preparing, planning and implementing the area’s large scale regeneration and infrastructure projects.

One of the UK’s leading practitioners in urban regeneration, Bob Lane came to the area in 2002, when he was appointed Chief Executive of the Urban Regeneration Company Catalyst Corby, prior to the launch of its Regeneration Framework in January 2003.

Charged with delivering an ambitious programme of regeneration in the former steel town, Bob Lane assembled and led the highly-skilled and experienced team, which was responsible for setting the sustainable development of Corby firmly on track. In just three and a half years, it oversaw a threefold increase in major planning applications, 2,176 new housing starts, £255m of private and public sector investment and the transformation of the town centre, which continues apace.

NNDC was duly established in 2006 as a result of the government’s keenness to build on the success of Corby’s regeneration programme and bring the experience and expertise of this team to bear on the wider growth area consisting of East Northants, Kettering, Wellingborough as well as Corby.

Bob Lane, said:

“After making an initial three-year commitment to Catalyst Corby, I have enjoyed six years working with various partners on the delivery of the exciting growth and regeneration agenda for the North Northamptonshire area.

I am hugely proud of what has been achieved by both NNDC and Catalyst Corby in this time. There is a degree of confidence and pride in Corby now which had been missing for decades. I am confident that with the public and private partnerships now in place, the town will continue to go from strength to strength.
I also think that, in terms of potential, few regions in the UK can match North Northamptonshire, which is currently out-performing more celebrated growth areas in terms of delivering new housing and sustainable regeneration.

It has been a difficult decision but, with the new organisation well established, a new Chair in place and Corby’s regeneration making good progress, it is the right time to hand over the reins.”

David Reynolds, Chairman of NNDC, said:

"In a relatively short period of time, Bob Lane has set up and successfully managed two different delivery vehicles, both of which have delivered real improvements on the ground for the people living and working in our area.
His strategic thinking and tireless lobbying on behalf of North Northamptonshire will benefit the sub-region for many years to come and, on behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Bob Lane for all his hard work over the last six years.”

The Board of NNDC will now begin the search for candidates to be next Chief Executive of NNDC.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Bob Lane’s previous roles include Chief Executive of Speke Garston Development Company, Liverpool, Assistant Chief Executive of the Merseyside Development Corporation and roles at Oldham and Lambeth Councils managing urban programmes. .

He has worked for more than 25 years as a specialist in the delivery of urban regeneration projects and in June 2004 was awarded an OBE for his services to regeneration

About North Northants Development Company - http://www.nndev.co.uk

North Northants Development Company (NNDC) is supported by the Department for Communities and Local Government, the East Midlands Development Agency and English Partnerships, as well as by the local authorities and Northamptonshire County Council.

The NNDC area covers the whole of North Northamptonshire and includes the districts of Corby, East Northamptonshire, Kettering and Wellingborough.

For further information on this press release please contact:

Robert Pine/ Sarah Webster at ING MEDIA
T: 020 7247 8334
E: robert@ing-media.com