Lord Rogers is to draw up masterplans for up to 10 rundown London areas in his first major project as adviser to the Greater London Authority.
The urban taskforce chairman is set to work with the authority's planning department on between six and 10 brownfield sites around transport interchanges, mainly in areas just outside central London.

Although the sites have yet to be chosen, the GLA is looking to revamp dilapidated areas such as Harlesden and Willesden.

Martin Simmons, head planner at the GLA, said he was delighted that the authority could "finally get moving with the scheme" after appointing Rogers to the £130,000-a-year post last month.

Simmons added that up to 40 sites had been listed for consideration so far. The final choice will be made about a month after Rogers takes up his GLA post after the Easter break.

Simmons said: "We'll investigate the potential of developing a masterplan for sites such as Willesden junction. This area encroaches into Harlesden – which has seen very little development in recent years.

"We'll particularly look at the interplay between transport and urban design when deciding on the sites." The GLA intends to involve transport companies, the London Development Agency and local property developers in revamping the sites.

The authority said it was too early to talk about the allocation of public funds to the project.

Masterplanning has been identified as a key part of the GLA's spatial development policy, due out in the summer. The policy is being overseen by deputy mayor Nicky Gavron.

There has been criticism of London mayor Ken Livingstone's decision to appoint Rogers architectural adviser to the GLA because his practice, Richard Rogers Partnership, works in the capital.

Rogers will work as a paid consultant alongside his current role as unpaid adviser to the mayor, which he took up last July following the creation of London's governing body. Rogers' new consultancy role will be an extension of his current work, which includes implementing the recommendations of the urban taskforce report.