Berkeley Group has declined to comment on the reasons behind the sudden departure of Tony Carey, the managing director of the firm鈥檚 St George business, after 17 years on the main board of the company.

Amid market speculation of a senior management bust-up, a source close to the group said Carey 鈥渄idn鈥檛 share Berkeley鈥檚 鈥檝ision 2020鈥� green growth strategy鈥�, which was launched in June by group managing director Rob Perrins.

Carey is thought to have been close to Berkeley Group chairman and founder Tony Pidgley, who was succeeded last year by former finance director Perrins.

Carey, through control of St George, had been central to the success of Berkeley鈥檚 move into urban regeneration. During his time at the firm, St George was responsible for the award-winning Imperial Wharf and Battersea Reach developments, as well as early involvement in the King鈥檚 Cross regeneration.

In a statement to the City late last week, the London housebuilder and regeneration specialist said: 鈥淭he Berkeley Group announces that Tony Carey has left the board of Berkeley with immediate effect.鈥�

Pidgley thanked Carey on behalf of the board.