Barnet Council is seeking a new partner for the controversial project

Mystery surrounds a controversial scheme to regenerate Cricklewood and Brent Cross after it was revealed Barnet Council officials were seeking a new partner for the scheme.

The long running saga, which campaigners have been battling against, will see the shopping centre in Hendon doubled in size and a large scale regeneration of the Cricklewood area will follow.

But campaigners claim the latest development show the £4.5billion plans have been scrapped and say it was only ever about doubling the size of the shopping centre.

Cllr Alison Hopkins, a member of the Brent Cross Coalition protest group, told the Times she thought the developers were seeking a way out.

She said: “This latest development is yet more uncertainty for residents and businesses and mystery continues to surround the plans.

“I think they just want to double the shopping centre and then cut and run.”

But Hammerson, the development partner, claim it was always planned that Barnet Council would seek a new partner for the ‘second phase’ of the regeneration.

Mike McGuinness, development director for the Brent Cross Cricklewood development partners, said: “The Brent Cross Cricklewood Development Partners remain committed to the delivery of this vital regeneration project and we are actively working with Barnet Council to secure improvements to the current plans which we will bring forward for public consultation this summer.

“We have always been clear that we would bring on board other partners to help build out such a large scale project and this remains the case and any such appointment will be a joint process with Barnet Council.”