A REGENERATION boss charged with drive investment into North Worcestershire is stepping down from the role.

Dean Piper is leaving the North Worcestershire Economic & Regeneration Development (NWedR) to take up the post of Head of Economic Prosperity at Cannock Chase District Council - his home district.

Mr Piper has headed up the NWedR team for more than four years.

He said he was proud of the achievements of the team during his term which has included public realm improvements in Kidderminster and Bromsgrove town centres and obtaining planning consent for Redditch Gateway that is expected to bring £100million investment and 2,500 jobs to the east of the town.

Plans have also been developed for regenerating Redditch town centre and the Lion Fields development in Kidderminster.

Mr Piper said: “Whilst I am sad to be leaving North Worcestershire, I am very proud of what we have achieved as a team.

“We punch above our weight and are now well recognised as a proactive and engaged shared service that is making a demonstrable difference across North Worcestershire.

“I believe that the NWedR service is in a good place and the future of North Worcestershire in terms of economic development is very positive with more than £350 million of inward investment coming our way over the next few years.

“I would like to say a big thanks to the excellent NWedR team and our partners for all the support and hard work over the last four years and I wish them every success for the future.

“I am excited about my next challenge in Cannock Chase, but will watch North Worcestershire’s progress with great interest.”

Mike Parker, Corporate Director: Economic Prosperity and Place for Wyre Forest District council said: “We will be very sorry to see Dean leave, he’s really added something extra to the NWEDR team and has made considerable strides in taking forward the strategies and project plans across all three authorities with widespread success.

“However we congratulate him on his appointment and wish him well in the next stage of his career with Cannock Chase, an authority much nearer to his home! We will be moving ahead with the recruitment for Dean’s successor in the next few weeks.”