THE leader of Barnet Council is “delighted” the Government has approved the Brent Cross Cricklewood regeneration scheme.

The £4.5bn project will not be called in by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, and Conservative Councillor Lynne Hillan believes the development will bring welcome investment into the area.

The project is expected to create 7,500 homes, 27,000 jobs and three schools, as well as improving transport infrastructure and open spaces.

Cllr Hillan said: “I am obviously delighted that Barnet's biggest regeneration project has been given a green light by central Government.

"This is a £4.5 billion investment in the borough that will create a new town centre, new homes, new jobs and new schools as well as enhancing one of the borough's biggest employers.”

A council planning committee approved the scheme last November and the plans received further backing from Mayor of London Boris Johnson earlier this year.

The decision by the Secretary of State Eric Pickles MP not to call in the application means bosses at the Brent Cross Cricklewood Development Partners are free to submit more detailed plans for the first stage of the project, with work expected to start by 2014.

Cllr Hillan said: "Schemes such as Brent Cross Cricklewood will help Barnet cope with the pressures of growth while preserving the essentially suburban nature of the rest of the borough."