Croydon’s chief executive has questioned the government's decision to cancel the Building Schools for the Future programme.

Croydon Council’s plans for a £350m investment into the borough’s schools was thrown into disarray as its Government funded programme was axed last Monday.

Speaking at a Movers and Shakers breakfast last week for property and construction managers Jon Rouse said: “I have been supportive on the big decisions the coalition government has taken so far but BSF is the first one that’s made me pause.

“I hope that it is only itself a pause before capital investment to schools starts to flow again.”

Mr Rouse said Croydon Council was committed to protecting its capital spending programme, despite the fears of widespread cuts in local government investment.

“For me, it can act as a bridge that could help alleviate any risk of public sector cuts pushing the economy into a double-dip recession. Capital expenditure of infrastructure and site assembly is one of the most enabling things a council can do for the economy.”

He also called on councils and other public sector bodies to work with the property and construction industry to develop under-used public buildings.

In November last year the council, which put in a joint bid with Kingston, was awarded £100m to begin working on the first phase of its scheme to transform Croydon’s schools.

Phase one of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, which has been stopped, included refurbishing Priory Special School and Archbishop Lanfranc School.

The future of a new school on the site of Selsdon High School, called Quest Academy, is still undecided.

Other plans already in motion for Harris Academy Purley and the Brit School are also under discussion.