The director of regeneration at Southwark council, Fred Manson, has vowed to drive through decisions on two landmark schemes before leaving the council.
Manson, 57, resigned last week from his role as director of a £2bn regeneration portfolio. However, he told Building this week that he would not leave the council before the London Bridge Tower had gone to Southwark's planning committee. The £350m tower, which is 306 m high, is expected to be discussed by the committee by the end of October.

Manson also pledged to stay on until Southwark council signs an outline agreement with Southwark Land Regeneration to carry out a £1.5bn mixed-use redevelopment of Elephant & Castle. This is expected by the end of 2001.

Manson said of the London Bridge Tower project: "We are working closely with the Greater London Authority to assess the design, the environmental impact, the transport case, the economic regeneration case.

"We will know by early September whether we agree or disagree with the GLA on it. The constructive discussions we have had with the GLA will save us lots of time should the environment secretary call it in."

Southwark council last week appointed consultants to advise it on the development agreement with Southwark Land Regeneration, including planning consultant Tibbalds Monroe, financial adviser Ernst & Young, transport consultant JMP and property adviser GVA Grimley.

Manson said the negotiations with Southwark Land Regeneration included "the vexed issue of what we are going to do with the housing". Options under discussion include transferring the housing stock to a community land trust or a not-for-profit registered social landlord with tenants on its board, or keeping them under council control.

We will know by early September whether we agree or disagree with the GLA on it

Manson on the London Bridge Tower

Manson said: "To do that negotiation by the end of the year will require a lot of work." A source close to the project said: "We need to get to the point where Southwark commits politically to stock transfer."

Manson's resignation was followed this week by the exit of Southwark's director of housing Michael Irvine.

Sources close to regeneration projects in Southwark this week linked Irvine's departure to political differences with Manson over stock transfer and rivalry over the control of Southwark's housing agenda.

A source said: "There was undoubtedly not full co-operation between these two. It got to the point where councillors were not happy that that was the case. It became important for them to have a management team that worked together."