Create Streets director Nicholas Boys Smith has been named interim chair of the government’s Building Beautiful Commission.

Housing secretary James Brokenshire said Boys Smith, who is one of the existing commissioners, would step up as interim chair. The MHCLG yesterday confirmed it was an interim appointment before a permanent replacement for Scruton was appointed.

Brokenshire announced the move in an interview on LBC radio in which he said he regretted the way the commission’s previous chair Roger Scruton was sacked.