About Muse
Who is Muse?
Muse is a UK placemaker with over 40 years of experience in regeneration and urban regeneration. We create thriving neighbourhoods that combine infrastructure, homes, workspaces and public spaces. Our goal is simple: to make places work for people, businesses and communities.
What does Muse do?
We deliver complex, mixed-use regeneration projects in partnership with the public and private sectors. Our work includes creating homes, workspaces, sustainable infrastructure and shared spaces so that towns and cities can grow and thrive.
We have been referred to as a Mixed-use Developer, a Master Developer and a Regeneration Specialist, but we refer to ourselves as a placemaker, as we bring together all of the components, from partnership, finance and delivery, through to homes, workspaces and public spaces, to make great places work.
Where does Muse operate?
We work across the UK, from major city centres to town centre renewal and neighbourhood regeneration. Our current projects are all across the UK in towns and cities including Bradford, Durham, Wolverhampton, Solihull, Salford, Manchester, London, Plymouth and Bristol.
Where is Muse based?
Muse operates through four regional businesses – North West, Yorkshire & North East, Midlands and South. Each is led by a dedicated team with deep local knowledge, giving us strong connections to local markets, partners and communities.
This regional structure means we can combine national scale with local insight, ensuring every project reflects the needs and ambitions of the area while benefiting from our expertise and resources across the UK.
Who are the Muse leadership team?
Muse is led by Phil Mayall, our Managing Director, supported by four Regional Managing Directors who lead our work across the UK:
North West – Phil Marsden
Yorkshire & North East – Simon Dew
Midlands – Maggie Grogan
South – Simon Harding-Roots
This structure gives Muse strong national leadership combined with deep local knowledge. Our MD and regional MDs work closely together to set strategy, build partnerships and ensure delivery of complex regeneration projects with a clear focus on community, quality and sustainability.
Muse Approach
What types of projects does Muse deliver?
Muse specialises in large-scale regeneration and mixed-use projects. We create new neighbourhoods with homes, workspaces and public spaces, alongside infrastructure and community facilities.
What is Muse’s approach to social impact?
Our projects focus on local benefit. That means supporting jobs and apprenticeships, creating opportunities for local businesses and investing in community wellbeing. We measure impact throughout the project lifecycle to ensure lasting results.
How does Muse ensure sustainability?
We embed sustainability from day one. That includes energy-efficient design, low-carbon construction methods, biodiversity measures and circular economy principles. We aim to create resilient places that contribute to net zero targets.
What is placemaking?
Placemaking is a people-centred approach to the planning, design, and management of public spaces. The concept focuses on creating vibrant, attractive, and functional places that foster strong community connections and enhance the overall experience of an area.
Key Elements of Placemaking
- Community-driven: Engages local residents and stakeholders in shaping spaces.
- Human scale design: Prioritises pedestrians and ensures accessibility for all.
- Sociable spaces: Encourages interaction and activities, making places lively and inclusive.
- Sense of identity: Reflects cultural heritage, history, and local character.
- Sustainability: Integrates green spaces, eco-friendly design, and long-term resilience.
What is Muse’s approach to placemaking?
Working with partners, Muse create beautiful, liveable and sustainable places that are people-centred, high quality and built to last.
Key Principles of Muse’s Placemaking Approach:
- Vision-led regeneration: Every project starts with a clear long-term vision developed with partners, ensuring places are resilient and meet future needs rather than being short-term fixes.
- Mixed-use: Muse stands for mixed-use, bringing together homes, workspaces, leisure, civic and green spaces to foster vibrant neighbourhoods where people want to work, live and connect.
- Sustainability at the core: Through their Our Sustainable Future strategy, Muse aims for net-zero developments, biodiversity enhancement, and a significant reduction in carbon emissions. Examples include Passivhaus-certified homes and sustainable workplaces like Eden in Salford.
- Social impact and inclusivity: Emphasis is placed on creating inclusive communities with access to opportunities, healthy transport options, public spaces, and facilities that improve wellbeing.
- Partnership-driven: Muse collaborates widely with local authorities, housing providers, and private partners through initiatives like ECF and Habiko, enabling large-scale regeneration and delivery of affordable, low-carbon homes.
- Long-term stewardship: Projects are designed with enduring value in mind, including mechanisms for community involvement and estate management to ensure places thrive over time.
- Innovation and learning: Muse continuously evolves their methods by adopting new technologies, engaging experts, and embedding feedback from users to enhance design and functionality.
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National Partnerships
What are Muse’s national partnerships?
Muse is part of three significant and successful long-term national partnerships:
ECF with Homes England and Legal and General
ECF works alongside local authorities to unlock regeneration that others can’t progress, by bringing together the investment, partnership and delivery needed to move forward with confidence.
Muse’s role in ECF is to lead development delivery, design, large-scale planning and implementation. Turning strategy into real, deliverable places.
Habiko with Pension Insurance Corporation and Homes England
Habiko combines insight, capital and expertise to provide lasting, positive social Habiko combines insight, capital and expertise to provide lasting, positive social impact through the delivery of affordable, energy-efficient homes for rent.
Muse is the placemaking delivery partner for Habiko. Muse sources sites, bring forward planning applications and site infrastructure plans and deliver the new homes.
Waterside Places with Canal and River Trust
Waterside Places specialises in creating urban waterside communities by harnessing the unique natural qualities of our waterways to create mixed, balanced, diverse and sustainable places for everyone to enjoy.
Is Muse a partner in Habiko?
Yes Muse is the placemaking delivery partner for Habiko. Muse sources sites, bring forward planning applications and site infrastructure plans and deliver the new homes.
Is Muse a partner in ECF (the English Cities Fund)?
Yes, Muse’s role in ECF is to lead development delivery, design, large-scale planning and implementation. Turning strategy into real, deliverable places.
Working with Muse
How does Muse work with local authorities?
Muse partners with local authorities to unlock regeneration opportunities. We combine local knowledge with commercial expertise, manage risk and provide the capability to deliver ambitious projects that create long-term community benefits.
How can I work with Muse?
It’s simple: use the Pagabo framework or talk to us about other routes. Contact our team via the website, email or LinkedIn to start the conversation.
What is the Pagabo Developer-Led Framework?
The Pagabo Developer-Led Framework is a UK-compliant procurement route that allows public sector bodies to appoint a development partner without running a full OJEU tender. It’s designed to simplify and speed up the process so regeneration can start sooner.
How do I appoint Muse through Pagabo?
You can appoint Muse directly through the Pagabo Developer-Led Framework by:
Direct Award – the fastest route, with appointment in a matter of weeks.
Further Competition – a mini-competition between framework members if required.
Both routes are fully compliant.
Why should I use the Pagabo Framework?
The Pagabo framework gives you:
Speed – appointment in weeks, not months.
Compliance – fully PCR 2015 compliant.
Certainty – uses pre-agreed template agreements.
Support – from feasibility through to delivery.
Has Muse delivered projects through Pagabo before?
Yes. Local authorities across the UK have appointed Muse through Pagabo, including Bradford (City Village, £270m), Wolverhampton (City West, £300m), and Stevenage (Station Gateway, £850m).
Jobs at Muse
How can I work at Muse?
Muse is always keen to hear from talented people in development, project management, finance, HR, marketing and business support. If you’re interested in joining Muse send a CV and covering letter setting out why you want to work with us to recruitment@museplaces.com.
To find open job vacancies please visit the ‘Work with Us’ page on museplaces.com.