North East Emerging Development Hotspots 2025

MICHELLE PERCY | NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL | Michelle is the director of investment and growth, playing a crucial part in ensuring that the wealth generated by the city benefits every residentas part of an inclusive economy. Michelle oversees the functions of planning, highways, property, major projects, housing and commercial so is key to how the city continues to grow and thrive. Michelle also holds responsibility for economic development, culture and events and works closely with private industry to ensure the needs of residents are met.

JONATHAN SEEBACHER | RYDER ARCHITECTURE | Jonathan joined Ryder in 2003 and has a wealth of experience across education, masterplanning, civic, residential and office sectors. He has been instrumental in growing Ryder’s portfolio across the UK and was part of the team that established Ryder’s Hong Kong office. Jonathan leads on our portfolio of buildings at Newcastle Helix, an exemplar of sustainable urban development which combines prestigious commercial and residential space with first class research and education facilities in the heart of Newcastle.

SIMON DEW | MUSE | Muse’s Development Director Simon Dew has over 25 years’ experience in property acquisition and development and joined the Muse team in 2010. Simon is responsible for several projects in Muse’s portfolio, including Northshore, a £300m mixed-use regeneration scheme in Tees Valley, One City Park, Bradford, an 81,000 sq ft office building in the heart of the city centre and Bradford City Village, working with Bradford Council, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Homes England.

INSI KHUSHNOOD | IGLOO REGENERATION | Insi Khushnood is a senior development manager at igloo Regeneration, with a career spanning 20 years working in commercial, urban regeneration projects. Insiyah’s passion is to create sustainable communities that have a net positive impact on People, Place and Planet. Insiyah is based in the North East and has worked in a number of cities across the UK and different sectors, from transport, regeneration, retail and residential.

TANIA LOVE | FAULKNERBROWNS | Tania drives FaulknerBrowns’ thinking on city centre place strategy and activation. She has delivered over 3m sq ft of new places as well as remodelling existing buildings in heritage settings. Tania’s expertise has led to seats on several industry boards including Revo and the Leisure Property Forum, and in the North-East with NE1 Newcastle’s Business Improvement District and BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art. A Fellow of the Institute of Place Management, she was also part of the Government’s High Street Task Force 2020-24.

STUART HOWIE | AVISON YOUNG | Stuart leads Avison Young’s regeneration business, advising public and private sector clients on the delivery of major property and economic development projects.
He specialises in structuring, procuring and implementing public private partnerships to deliver large scale development projects such as mix use developments, urban extensions, innovation districts and town centre repurposing. His clients include local and combined authorities, development agencies, funders, investors and developers.

CLLR KEVIN JOHNSTON | SUNDERLAND CITY COUNCIL | Cllr Johnston was appointed as portfolio holder for housing, regeneration and business in May 2024. He was first elected to the council to represent the Copt Hill ward in May 2016 and held the position of portfolio holder for Dynamic City between 2021 and 2024. Cllr Johnston represents the council and city on a number of external bodies and organisations including Environmental Protection UK, the North East Migration Network, Northern Housing Consortium, South Tyne & Wear Waste Management Partnership, and the Samuel Dobson Trust.

ROB HAMILTON | NORTH EAST COMBINED AUTHORITY | Rob returned to the North East fifteen years ago, to work in economic development. Currently Head of Strategy and Innovation at the North East Combined Authority, he is responsible for their economic strategy and for the delivery of a range of programmes – including the Investment Zone and supporting businesses to grow, innovate, and create jobs.

RAIFE GALE | MUSE | Raife joined Muse in January 2022 as a Senior Development Manager. He brings over a decade of experience in delivering retail- and leisure-focused redevelopment projects, having worked on mixed-use regeneration schemes across the UK. He has collaborated with a range of partners, including investment funds, private equity firms, and public sector organisations.

Raife sits on the Operational Management Board for Habiko – the affordable housing JV between Muse, Homes England and PIC.

Senior representatives from the following organisations have already booked their ticket at this event:

Placefirst | Muckle | Arup | Andrew Moseley Associates | Sirius Group | Hilson Moran | DPP | Willmott Dixon | Summers Inman | Astute | Wardell Armstrong | EDGE | Civic | Gleeds | Identity Consult | Aspinall Verdi | Green Piling | Polypipe | Aptus Construction | Todd Milburn | Homes England | OOBE | Story Homes | Gardiner | GMI | Greengage | LDA Design | Robertson | Morgan Sindall | Pozzoni | Haskoning | Turner & Townsend | Narro Associates.

Tickets cost £88+VAT. Local authorities and registered providers can purchase tickets at a 50% discount below.

There will be a mix of presentations and panels. Breakfast and lunch are included, providing plenty of opportunity for business development.

Book using the form below – if you can’t see the form, please contact events@placenorth.co.uk