Regenerating the North: Forging Success Through Partnership, Vision, and Leadership

While the North of England presents a wealth of regeneration opportunities, turning this potential into tangible, inclusive growth requires navigating a complex landscape of viability gaps, skills shortages, and political hurdles.

Regenerating the North Event

At a recent "Regenerating the North" event hosted by WSP and CIOB, a panel of industry leaders, including Joanne Bonnington of MSV Housing, Mark Edwards of Capital&Centric, Jane Healey Brown of Arup, and John Foster, formerly of Wates Group, dissected the blueprint for success and the systemic challenges that must be overcome.

The Blueprint for Success: Partnership and Political Will

While strategic plans and combined authorities are crucial, the panel identified a more fundamental ingredient behind the region's success: the consistent and brave quality of its leadership.

John Foster argued that Manchester's achievements were born from "bravery" – a willingness from leaders to consistently "push for the right thing and push hard," using their influence to overcome obstacles and withstand barriers.

Mark Edwards of Capital&Centric echoed this, stressing that political consistency is essential for developers to have the confidence to invest and plan for the long term. The panel agreed that success stories stem from aligned public-private partnerships and that nothing happens without leadership that unites both executive and democratic influence.

The Regeneration Opportunity: Beyond the City Centre

The discussion highlighted that the most significant opportunities now lie in the region's towns. Mark Edwards noted that his projects in Bolton and Stockport are seeing huge demand, demonstrating the untapped potential outside the traditional city core.

Tameside Council’s strategy was presented as a case study in this tailored approach, with bespoke plans for its nine distinct towns. With a focus on Ashton as a Mayoral Development Zone and Droylsden as a growth hub, the council is working to bring forward proposals for thousands of new homes. The key is to create sustainable, mixed-use town centres that drive footfall and create a stable economic position.

The Hurdles to Delivery: Viability, Skills, and Procurement

Despite the opportunities, the panel identified major challenges. Viability remains the top hurdle, with affordability, planning constraints, and funding limitations stalling progress.

Beyond finance, a critical skills shortage is impacting delivery capacity. Jane Healey Brown noted that the industry needs to focus on retaining and attracting mid-level professionals who can lead and deliver complex projects, not just on bringing in early-years talent.

Furthermore, John Foster issued a stark warning about the procurement process, calling for urgent reform to combat inefficiencies and contractor fatigue. With 4,000 construction companies going bust last year, he stressed that without changing how projects are procured, the industry risks failure.

The Path Forward: Inclusivity and Innovation

The future of successful regeneration, the panel concluded, lies in delivering inclusive growth.

Joanne Bonnington of MSV Housing emphasised the need to build "the right homes in the right places," particularly to address the huge demand for affordable and supported housing for those with complex needs.

Investment in infrastructure, especially the MetroLink and the Liverpool-Manchester railway, is seen as vital to underpinning this growth. The panel also saw opportunities in Manchester's "Victorian city" constraints, highlighting an initiative with WSP and the University of Manchester to research advanced materials that could reduce the use of concrete and become a global export.

The path forward is clear: success will be defined by brave leadership, true collaboration, and an innovative approach to solving old problems.