Two senior council officers charged with running the borough’s stuttering regeneration projects have been removed from their posts.

Andrew Westcott, project director for the Stonegrove and Spur Road estates regeneration, and Roger Arkell, project director for the West Hendon estate regeneration, have lost their jobs in a council “restructuring”, although both men can apply for other positions.

The West Hendon project has been plagued by delays and is yet to begin.

The Stonegrove and Spur Road project is underway, but only after developers Barratts were allowed to renegotiate the terms of their agreement with Barnet Council.

The two officers will be given advice and support in applying for management posts within the re-jigged regeneration team. They face redundancy if they are unsuccessful.

A council spokesman said: "In addition a new head of regeneration is being appointed to strengthen the leadership of the service and underpin delivery of the regeneration projects.

"In the interim, the council has appointed an Acting Head of Regeneration and Interim Regeneration Manager to ensure no stalling of project delivery."

"The council is ensuring — despite difficult economic circumstances generally — continued success on key regeneration areas."

However Hendon MP Andrew Dismore heavily criticised the move.

"These regeneration schemes are reaching a critical phase, working out the finer points of the financing plans, and they’re losing the people who have been living these schemes and working them out,” he said.

"What does that say to partners they’re bringing in to finance the schemes?"

The latest development brings the tally of senior officers to lose their jobs in the last four months to four.

Mike Freestone left his post as director of environment and transport in December, as the work to replace Aerodrome Road bridge ran months overschedule and millions of pounds over budget.

Treasury manager Patrick Towey resigned last week following revelations he ignored approved credit rating criteria when depositing millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money in Icelandic banks.