Event Summary
Cheshire and North Wales Development Update 2025 | Summary, photos + slides
Are Cheshire and North Wales starring in a development fairytale to emulate that of Wrexham Football Club? As the script for an elected mayor evolves, how can this region take centre stage in the Devolution Priority Programme? Place North West’s annual exploration of the area put the spotlight on the changing times ahead.
The event was sponsored by Waterman, FI Real Estate Management, Cheshire West and Chester Council and the charity partner was Regeneration Brainery.
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Chain reaction
With devolution just around the corner for Cheshire and Warrington, the audience was asked ‘who would make a good mayor?’
The ensuing poll saw Dan Price, Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Steve Park, director of growth for Warrington Council, Stephen Broomhead, outgoing chief executive at Warrington Council, and Cllr Michael Gorman, deputy leader, Cheshire East Council – and Place North West panellist – suggested as potential candidates.
Politicians from Cheshire and Warrington discuss devolution. Credit: PNW
The devolution debate
Cllr Hans Mundry, Leader of Warrington Council, said decisions around devolution had “accelerated in the last couple of years” and said it would be beneficial in both directions. “If we are not at that table we will not get direct contact with government – what they need we can deliver for them,” he said.
Dan Whelan, deputy editor at Place North West, asked if it was frustrating to see already devolved areas receiving investment while Cheshire was still waiting. Cllr Karen Shore, deputy leader at Cheshire West and Chester Council, replied: “It’s an indication of what devolution can do for us. They [the government] speak to Liverpool and Manchester and think ‘job done’. We are the bit in the middle. It is frustrating but we are on that journey now.”
Asked if Warrington would be better placed in another devolved area, Cllr Michael Gorman, deputy leader of Cheshire East Council, said: “We need Warrington to make a functional economic area. We want jobs and skills. It’s persistent funding we can use to leverage more funding.”
Come to Cheshire West
Gemma Davies, director of economy and housing at Cheshire West and Chester Council, gave an update on her authority’s key projects, including the Chester City Gateway, Northgate 2, and the housing-led regeneration of Ellesmere Port, Winsford, and Northwich. “This is a once in a generation opportunity – now’s the time!” she said.
Detailing multi-million pound investments in the city centre, the various town centres, Chester Racecourse, the zoo, and the housing market, she made a proactive call for development partners.
Davies also talked about the power of the area’s visitor economy, which is worth £2bn and has grown by 50% since 2020 and added: “It is a strong driver of our success. This is a place to invest and grow a business, as well as to visit.”
View the presentations from the event
Gemma Davies outlined Cheshire West and Chester Council’s regeneration priorities. Credit: PNW
New views
Phil Collings, development director at Barratt Redrow and land and development lead at the MADE Partnership, discussed the “timely” balance between development, particularly in housing, and keeping communities happy.
He said: “We are here to unlock really large sites but we want to do it in the right way. It’s not just about unlocking housing, it’s about delivering the amenities and infrastructure up front.
“It’s really tough for councils to deliver housing growth. It’s a recipe for local communities to get upset, with existing schools, doctors surgeries, etc being overburdened. We think a large part of the solution is to create new settlements working with master developers.”
The state of the market
Simon Roddam, part of the transactions and asset management division at OBI Property, talked about the office market. He said: “At the minute we are in a recovery period. There have been knee-jerk reactions to things going on in government, and economic uncertainty. We are working with specific sectors that are confident in where they are going with their office needs. There is an impact on this from targets for residential developments.”
Davies added that they were turning enquiries away from those seeking the grade A offices that businesses want and said it was a timing issue. She added: “Developers want to build for viability, they are not going to build speculatively.”
Joe Broadley [right] talked about Igloo’s plans in Knutsford. Credit: PNW
Crown jewels
Joe Broadley, development director at Igloo Regeneration, discussed the company’s recent appointment as the Crown Estate’s development partner on a scheme in Knutsford.
It is in the “early stages” but aims to create net zero housing capability. Looking longer term he said: “The ultimate output is that we will pull together a blueprint, a document of lessons learnt, that will show how it can be done on different projects across the Crown Estate portfolio and hopefully the wider industry as well.”
Wonders of Wales
David Mathews, land and property programme manager for Ambition North Wales, outlined the North Wales Growth Deal, which has a total target investment of £1bn. The objectives are to create 4,200 new jobs and generate net additional GVA of £2.4bn.
There’s the Wrexham Gateway Project to support a shift away from car use and develop everything from student accommodation to office space, and the Warren Hall site in Flintshire where 55 acres have been released for commercial development.
On the issue of project viability, he said: “The Commercial Property Development Grant is due to go live in 2026 and we are ramping up our use of JVs to help difficult to deliver sites.”
Kicking off
The fascinating tale of investment in Wrexham AFC by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney is reaping rewards on both sides of the border. An expansion of The Racecourse Ground, STōK Cae Ras, is planned, with a 7,500-seater Kop stand increasing capacity to more than 17,000 fans, plus a piazza area. The aim is to see Premier League and international football return in the future.
With spin-off investment in the area even including a potential new brewery for Wrexham Lager, Emily Armstrong, senior development manager for FI Real Estate Management, said: “It’s raising the profile of Wrexham full stop. It says ‘come here, we are open for business.”
David Mathews outlined how Ambition North Wales is supporting regeneration projects. Credit: PNW
Yr heriau? The challenges?
It’s all about communities, said Sioned Edwards, managing director at Cadnant Planning, detailing the mixed blessings of living in a beautiful area where second homes and holiday accommodation cut the housing stock: “We need to ensure local people can remain in their areas and can afford to a home.”
She detailed how the Welsh Government’s targets for housing focused on low-cost housing.
She did say there should be benefits through Article Four legislation which would ‘refuse certain permanent property rights’ but added: “A target would help. There’s a missed opportunity for the Welsh government. A lot of allocated sites are being brought forward for 100% affordable schemes which is great, but I can’t help but worry we are creating another problem in a shortage of open market housing.”
The age-old issues of planning officer shortages and power restraints are as relevant in Wales as they are in England. Armstrong said: “Developers are securing power before they even get planning. Network infrastructure is a big barrier to development.”
Rhys Parry, capital investment lead for the Welsh Government, talked positively about the future of the region’s advanced manufacturing industry. “It bodes naturally with the history of this area,” he said. “There is a ready-made eco system of companies and it’s about building on that success with the aim of sustainability.”
What’s next?
Join Place North at our upcoming events
19 June – Cumbria Development Update
3 July – West Yorkshire Development Update
11 July – Manchester Summer Social
4 September – Greater Manchester Development Update
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The Warren Hall site is an odd choice when there are already various industrial estates in Flintshire that could be upgraded and expanded such as Flint and Queensferry and Deeside which would benefit local people with new employment opportunities and have public transport provision.
By GetItBuilt!