ECF

UKREiiF 2026 📽️ As the dust settles on UKREiiF for another year, we’ve been reflecting on a valuable three days of discussion, insight and collaboration in Leeds. We joined partners at Fearns at The Department for a series of discussions focused on long-term regeneration, investment and unlocking placemaking through partnership. UKREiiF was an opportunity to consider what long-term partnership can achieve, especially with ECF approaching 25 years of bringing together public purpose, institutional capital and delivery expertise to create places that last. Sir Michael Lyons, Chair of ECF, reflects on why partnership, confidence and continuity remain essential to unlocking regeneration in places such as Salford, Bradford and Barrow in this short video filmed at UKREiiF. With Homes England | Legal & General | Muse | UKREiiF #UKREiiF #Regeneration #Partnership #Placemaking #Investment #ECF 

Great to close out UKREiiF with a focus on the next generation of professionals entering the sector . Creating clearer pathways for new talent is essential if we are to unlock and sustain regeneration in complex places over the long term. This week in Leeds underlined what it takes to make regeneration possible where delivery is complex. Investment that unlocks viability, strong partnership with local authorities and partners and the staying power needed to sustain momentum over time. From reflections on Salford’s transformation, to Bradford City Village and the waterfront living future for Barrow, this year’s event demonstrated how long-term commitment, shared purpose and strong partnership can create the conditions for lasting regeneration. With Homes England | Legal & General | Muse | UKREiiF

Day two at UKREiiF saw ECF join partners for three discussions on long-term partnership, investment and placemaking. We started the morning with Barrow Rising: Unlocking a New Future for Waterfront Living, chaired by Chris Hulme , with Laura Percy from ECF , Peter Anstiss from Team Barrow , Angela Jones from Westmorland and Furness Council and Scott Grady from Haptic Architects . The discussion explored Barrow’s once-in-a-generation opportunity to support long-term national investment and diversify its economy alongside its role in the UK’s defence sector. Speakers reflected on the importance of partnership, social impact and community engagement in delivering the wider Barrow Rising 10-year plan, with Marina Village set to create around 1,350 new homes, improved waterfront connections and a more diverse housing offer that supports people to live, work and thrive in Barrow for generations to come. In our second session, Beyond Quick Wins: How City Village is Building a Compelling Case to Win Long-Term Investor Confidence, the discussion was chaired by Sir Michael Lyons and brought together James Dinsley from ECF, David Shepherd from Bradford Council , Tom Bridges from Homes England , Rachael Dennis from Incommunities and Ruth Davison from West Yorkshire Combined Authority. The panel explored how Bradford’s City Village is building investor confidence through delivery, partnership and a strong sense of place. Speakers reflected on how progress across the city, from public realm improvements and infrastructure investment to Bradford 2025 and growing civic confidence, is helping to change perceptions and unlock long-term regeneration opportunities. The discussion also highlighted the role of collaboration and early investment in supporting Bradford’s next chapter. We closed the morning with Built to Last? Unlocking Placemaking Through Partnership, chaired by Sir Michael Lyons, with Phil Mayall and Lisa Gledhill from Muse, Tom Roberts from Legal & General and Danielle Gillespie from Homes England. As ECF looks ahead to its 25th anniversary, the panel reflected on what long-term partnership has enabled, from patient capital and shared risk to local leadership, public sector support and the conditions needed to keep complex regeneration moving. A fantastic second day in Fearns at the Department. With Homes England | Legal & General | Muse | UKREiiF

Day one at UKREiiF 2026 A great start to a busy three days of insights and discussions at Fearns at The Department, with our first ECF session reflecting on 100 years of Salford. ECF joined partners for Salford at 100: The Power of People to discuss the city’s transformation, the role of long-term partnership and what the next decade of regeneration could bring. Thank you to Stacey Meadwell for chairing the session, which brought together Max Bentham and Laura Percy from ECF, John Searle from Salford City Council and Matty Pendergast from The University of Salford. ECF has been working in partnership with Salford City Council for 20 years, with Salford Central nearing completion and Crescent Salford coming to life.  The discussion focused on how regeneration is about people, community and creating places that deliver long-term social and economic impact. The panel explored how partnership has helped Salford evolve over the last 20 years, from Salford Quays to Salford Central, while ensuring local people remain part of the city’s future. Speakers also reflected on the importance of resilience, collaboration and having honest conversations to overcome challenges, alongside the role research, innovation and industry can play in driving inclusive growth across the city region. Tomorrow, we’ll be back at Fearns for three more sessions: 📆 7.30 – 8.45am - Breakfast with Barrow   With Team Barrow, Westmorland and Furness Council, Muse and Haptic Architects    📆 9.15 – 10am - Building Long-Term Investor Confidence in Bradford   With Bradford Council, Homes England, Incommunities, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Muse    📆 10.30 – 11.30am - Built to Last? Unlocking Placemaking Through Partnership   With Homes England, Legal & General and Muse Find out more: https://lnkd.in/e8tVw-r3  With Homes England | Legal & General | Muse | UKREiiF   

📣 ECF at UKREiiF 2026 Across Tuesday 19 and Wednesday 20 May, we’ll be joining partners at Fearns at The Department for conversations on long-term regeneration, investment and unlocking placemaking through partnership. Join us for: 📆 9.30 – 10.30am, Tuesday 19 May - Salford at 100: The Power of People With Salford City Council, The University of Salford and Muse 📆 7.30 – 8.45am, Wednesday 20 May - Breakfast with Barrow With Team Barrow, Westmorland and Furness Council, Muse and Haptic Architects 📆 9.15 – 10am, Wednesday 20 May - Building Long-Term Investor Confidence in Bradford With Bradford Council, Homes England, Incommunities, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Muse 📆 10.30 – 11.30am, Wednesday 20 May - Built to Last? Unlocking Placemaking Through Partnership With Homes England, Legal & General and Muse All sessions are open to UKREiiF attendees. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/e8tVw-r3 With Homes England | Legal & General | Muse | UKREiiF

📊 Are we asking the right questions about viability? Next week, LDN Collective's Max Farrell will join a UKREiiF panel including Muse, Make Architects and others to explore how thinking around viability is evolving. The discussion will move beyond short term appraisal models to consider long term value creation, risk, return and delivery, and what this means for how projects are shaped, funded and brought forward. As pressure on development continues to intensify, the question is no longer just what is viable, but what is worth building in the first place. 📅 Wednesday 20 May 🕛 13:30 - 14:30 📍Fearns, Leeds #LDNCollective #WeAreCityMakers #CollectivelySpeaking

UKREIFF /ECF Looking forward to being at UKREiiF in Leeds next week, where I will be joining a number of ECF sessions at Fearns at The Department on regeneration, investment and long-term delivery. On Tuesday, I will be taking part in The Role of the Master Developer, from 4.30pm to 6.30pm, exploring what it takes to deliver complex regeneration and create places that balance commercial viability, social value and community impact. On Wednesday, I will be moderating Beyond quick wins: How City Village is building a compelling case to win long-term investor confidence, from 9.15am to 10am, focused on how ECF and its partners are working in Bradford to unlock City Village and build confidence for future investment. I will then be chairing Built to Last: Unlocking Placemaking Through Partnership, from 10.30am to 11.30am, reflecting on ECF’s origins, almost 25 years of delivery, and what long-term public-private partnership can offer in today’s market. The common thread is delivery. If we are to unlock housing, support growth and create places of lasting value, we need partnerships that align public ambition, private investment and long-term stewardship. #UKREiiF2026 #regeneration #placemaking #partnership

🔊 Advancing innovation in Salford Crescent Innovation continues to take shape in Salford, with The University of Salford’s new Acoustics Laboratory reaching an important milestone. Delivered as part of the wider Crescent Salford masterplan, the facility reflects the long-term partnership between Salford City Council, the The University of Salford and ECF, bringing together education, research, business and regeneration in one connected district. Once complete, the new laboratory will expand the University’s world-leading acoustics capability, supporting research and industrial collaboration in a field with real impact on health, wellbeing and everyday life. It forms part of the wider 1.7m sq ft Crescent Innovation programme, creating new academic, research and commercial space to attract investment, support jobs and strengthen Salford’s role as a city built for the future. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/d9RkXjMH With Homes England | Legal & General | Muse | Salford City Council | The University of Salford | Morgan Sindall Construction | Crescent Salford #Salford #CrescentSalford #Regeneration #Partnership

Bringing people together at Cerulean Quarter. Residents, local businesses and creatives came together at Cerulean Quarter in Canning Town for a community-led afternoon at Green Haven Park. Art in the Park saw the skate park transformed by local street artists, with a live demonstration creating a colourful artwork that celebrated the culture and fabric of the area. Throughout the day, residents took part in a range of free activities, with local businesses including Zzetta and Yapix Coffee and Wine House providing food and refreshments. Moments like this are an important part of how places grow, building a sense of community alongside the physical regeneration taking place over time. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/e7yG3dZ9 With Homes England | Legal & General | Muse | London Borough of Newham| Greater London Authority | Metropolitan Thames Valley

🏙️ Living regeneration in Salford A week on from Salford marking its centenary birthday, we’re continuing our series celebrating the people who live and work across Salford Central, New Bailey and Crescent Salford. For 20 years, we’ve worked in partnership with Salford City Council to support the long-term regeneration of this part of the city. What has been created is more than new buildings and spaces. It is a place where people and businesses choose to be. In our latest feature, we hear from Leonie Blakeley at Freshfields LLP, who has been based at One New Bailey since 2017, alongside residents like Bethany Wellfair, who now call the area home. Their experiences reflect how the area has evolved into a well-connected, active neighbourhood. The impact of regeneration is ultimately shaped by the people who use a place every day. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eaUYK-bc With Homes England | Legal & General | Muse | Salford City Council | Freshfields #Salford #LivingRegeneration #Partnership