A COUNCIL chief who, for the past two years, has been masterminding the regeneration of Chatham is leaving to take up a new post.

Mark Bradbury, Medway Council's head of Chatham development, has quit to take up a key role in another part of the Thames Gateway.

Mr Bradbury has accepted the post of deputy director of development at London Thames Gateway Development Corporation.

Mr Bradbury will be working on a major regeneration programme in East London.

Robin Cooper, the council's director of regeneration and development, said: "Mark has indeed lived up to his name and left a positive mark on Chatham.

"We are now rapidly moving forward to attract investors into Chatham for new shops, homes and jobs as well as pursuing our ambition for a new cultural centre on the waterfront. Mark has provided the springboard we needed to take regeneration forward."

Mr Bradbury said: "I’ve enjoyed working in Medway and hope that I leave a solid platform for key projects to make swift progress in the years ahead.

"I’m particularly heartened by the public response to the recent consultation on the three Chatham masterplans. This has clearly shown that local people want to see Chatham’s regeneration move forward."