THE top jobs in BCP Council's new urban regeneration company have been announced.

The managing director of BCP Futureplaces Ltd is planning and regeneration consultant Gail Mayhew, the co-founder of The Stewardship Initiative and commissioner of the government’s Building Better Building Beautiful Commission.

And the former chief executive of Bournemouth Rugby Club and current chair of Poole BID, James Croker, has been appointed to head up community engagement to see that residents, businesses and visitors are involved in decisions.

Both have taken up their posts in the town hall-based company which will focus on 'place making' rather than purely development.

No directors have appointed yet apart from BCP chief executive, Graham Farrant, to be followed by deputy leader, Cllr Philip Broadhead and leader Cllr Drew Mellor.

A chairman and other non-executive directors will also be appointed in due course.

Cllr Broadhead, portfolio holder for regeneration said: “We want the BCP city region to be world class, one of the best coastal places in which to live, work, invest and play.

"We are committed to delivering big changes across our whole area, supporting the creation of 13,000 jobs across all sectors of our economy, delivering new homes for local residents and facilitating a thriving environment for our businesses."

BCP Futureplaces Ltd, a working title, is wholly owned by the council unlike the Bournemouth Development Company, a joint venture with Morgan Sindall.

A review commissioned by Mr Farrant into how BDC has performed since it was formed in 2011, is expected to be published in the next few weeks.

Cllr Broadhead said the new company would put beauty and place making at the heart of development. He added: "We are taking a bold and unique approach to our placemaking role and responsibilities, by making sure we create future places with liveability and quality at the centre.

"We are determined to deliver economically vibrant but affordable places in neighbourhoods where our families have good livelihoods, and where our communities have a sense of belonging.

“Through BCP Futureplaces Ltd we will shift from that exclusive focus of meeting housing numbers towards a qualitative target of delivering great places with homes and infrastructure that are beneficial and healthy for our local communities and the environment."

The Building Better Building Beautiful Commission.advised the government on future housing developments and requirements for meeting the needs and expectations of communities.