Birmingham planning chief to step down

Birmingham City Council's planning and development chief Waheed Nazir is to step down from the post, it has been announced.

In a statement, the council said that, after ten years as strategic director, economy, Nazir had decided to step down.

As part of his role, Nazir is the city’s chief planning officer as well as director for a portfolio which covers development; highways & infrastructure; transport & connectivity; property; and housing development.

The statement said that, during his time at the council, Nazir had "led the transformation of the city, and has brought forward the delivery of multi-billion pound redevelopment schemes including Birmingham Smithfield, HS2 Curzon, Paradise, the Commonwealth Games 2022 Athletes Village, and the major employment sites of Peddimore and the Aston RIS."

He had also "driven the city’s housing development company (Birmingham Municipal Housing Trust) into the largest public sector housebuilder delivering thousands of new homes in the city," the council said.

Nazir said: "It has been an honour to have served the citizens of Birmingham and work with four different leaders and four chief executives. I am now looking forward to exploring the next chapter in my career."

He added that his decision to step down would allow him "the chance to explore a number of different options".

He added: "While I have yet to decide on a particular route, it is likely to take me into the private sector rather than another public sector position."

Nazir will remain in post until December. 

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