A second former councillor has got a job in the housing sector after working on Haringey’s failed regeneration plan.

Former housing chief Alan Strickland, who backed the controversial £2 billion Haringey Development Vehicle (HDV), has been made director of external affairs and partnerships at housing provider Optivo.

It comes shortly after former council leader Claire Kober was given a senior job at property management company Pinnacle Group.

Mr Strickland tweeted: “Very excited to be starting my new role @optivohomes this morning. Tackling the housing crisis is something I’m hugely passionate about, so very much looking forward to supporting @PaulHackett10 and the team in building thousands of new affordable homes.”

Mr Strickland, who was elected Noel Park councillor in 2010, stood down in November after failing to secure automatic reselection to run as a Labour candidate in this year’s local elections.

As cabinet member for housing and regeneration, he pushed the HDV – a partnership between the council and private housing firm Lendlease – as a means of tackling the borough’s housing shortage.

But the HDV plans were attacked as a sell-off of public assets that would not provide enough affordable homes, and the new Haringey administration has announced plans to scrap the proposals.

Optivo is one of the largest housing providers in the UK, with 44,000 affordable homes in London, the south-east and the Midlands.

The housing association – a partnership between AmicusHorizon and Viridian – plans to invest £3.5 billion in new homes over the next ten years.

It has a target of building 1,500 homes each year for shared ownership, open market sale and rent, including affordable and social rent.

Optivo chief executive Paul Hackett tweeted: “Looking forward welcoming @AlanStrickland this morning as @optivohomes new Director of External Affairs & Partnerships. Very exciting times for colleagues and residents as we gear up to invest £3.5m to build more than 15,000 new homes over next 10 years. #ukhousing”