Naisha Polaine
Barnet Council has appointed Naisha Polaine as Executive Director of Growth to lead some of London’s most ambitious regeneration programmes.
The council has one of London’s most ambitious growth strategies, with major development and regeneration schemes taking place in neighbourhoods across the borough, including the new £8bn net zero Brent Cross Town.
As the second largest borough, with a population of 390,000, Ms Polaine’s role will include ensuring that community engagement and Barnet’s commitment to being a Net Zero borough by 2042 are at the heart of shaping the council’s ambitions for regeneration and growth.
Ms Polaine is currently Chief Officer for Harlow and Gilston Garden Town, where she leads a partnership of five councils delivering 23,000 new homes across four neighbourhoods, as well as two new river crossings, other transport and community infrastructure. She is also a Non-Executive Director at Hill Holding Group Ltd, a top 15 UK housebuilder in London and the South East.
Prior to this, Ms Polaine was a senior adviser to the Department for International Trade, connecting international investors with large-scale real estate and infrastructure inward investment opportunities across the UK. She has also held senior executive positions at Homes England (formerly the Homes and Communities Agency) and was a Non-Executive Director for Cambridge University on their award-winning North-West Cambridge Eddington urban extension.
She said: “Barnet’s ambition for growth and regeneration is impressive and already proven. Crucially at its heart is getting the best for the community and residents, now and in the future. It feels like the council’s aspirations and mine are a great fit and I am very excited to be joining the team.”
Ms Polaine will lead Barnet’s ambitious Brent Cross Cricklewood regeneration scheme, including the creation of Brent Cross Town, with a planned 6,700 new homes, 50 acres of parks and open spaces, new and improved schools, new community, retail and leisure infrastructure, plus three million square feet of office space.
Alongside this, she will work with developers, our communities and partnership boards to deliver the renewal of four town centres in Colindale, North Finchley, Edgware and Burnt Oak to deliver thousands of new homes and community infrastructure.
In Colindale, the second fastest growing ward in London after the Olympic Park, the council is investing in the redevelopment of Colindale Tube station, supported by £29.5m of Government funding. The new station, due to open in December 2024, will improve access for one of London’s most deprived communities, as well as supporting the development of thousands of new homes.