The councillor responsible for regeneration in Harrow is stepping down from his role after he was nominated to sit on the board associated with a major redevelopment project in the borough.

Harrow Council leader Cllr Graham Henson announced that Cllr Keith Ferry will no longer manage wider regeneration strategy in Harrow.

He explained it would cause a conflict of interests after Cllr Ferry was proposed to represent the council on a board associated with the Harrow Strategic Development Partnership (HSDP).

The HSDP between the council and developer Wates Residential covers a £600 million scheme covering three sites in the borough – Poet’s Corner, Peel Road and Byron Quarter.

Harrow Conservatives have consistently criticised the administration’s plans to push on with the redevelopment, describing it as “the biggest mistake in a generation” and suggesting it will result in “unsuitable flats in high-rise buildings”.

The group has also been critical of Cllr Ferry’s tenure as regeneration lead, calling for a vote of no confidence in his position in 2019, which ultimately failed.

Cllr Henson noted Cllr Ferry, who also serves as deputy leader of the council, will have “extra time commitments” through his work on the HSDP and the boundary review.

He thanked his colleague for his impact on regeneration in the past, arguing he has “moved it forward very positively, building relationships between government and developers”.

Cllr Ferry will also step down from his role as chairman of the council’s planning committee following the meeting on December 9.