Shaping the next chapter for towns and cities in the North West

ECF is working with its partners in towns and cities to across England to unlock regeneration and long-term growth. In the North West, that work is entering a new phase.

From Salford and Stockport to St Helens and Barrow, ECF is working with partners across the region to support that next chapter.

Laura Percy, Development Director for the North West at ECF, reflects on the opportunities ahead.

Twenty years ago, as I was beginning my career in property and development in Hong Kong, ECF and Salford City Council were setting the foundations for a partnership that that would help transform Salford through two decades of regeneration.

I’ve spent much of my career abroad, but my roots are in the North West and my folks are from Liverpool. There was always a pull to come back and by joining Muse and ECF I have a great opportunity to contribute to the future of the region.

The amount that has happened over the last 15 years is extraordinary. You can stand in Salford today and see how much change has already happened and how it continues to progress. That impact is what we will seek to deliver in Stockport, St Helen’s and Barrow, all of which are at a much earlier point in their journey.

Everything we do in the North West is underpinned by trust, long-term stewardship and genuine partnership. That is why the ECF model works so well here.

I’ve worked on large, multi-phase and mixed-use development throughout my career. That experience has given me an appreciation of the power of partnership and collaboration in bringing forward complex regeneration and creating places that work for communities.

Partnership that unlocks places

ECF has a track record of delivering meaningful regeneration, but what really stands out is the long-term stewardship, supporting by the alignment of a mature, stable and mission-driven partnership between Homes England, L&G and Muse.

I’ve been with the team for six months now and everyone is highly committed to what they do, the impact we have in areas across the region. It is an experienced team, used to delivering at pace in complex environments.

The partnership unlocks funding, expertise and confidence that wouldn’t traditionally exist in a developer and client relationship.

Delivering change across the North West

That is especially true in Barrow with Marina Village, I’ve been able to get involved in this from the start and it is a strong example of how the ECF model can work in practice. At Marina Village we are helping the town to thrive for the long-term by creating a place where young people can stay, families can grow and older generations remain connected to the community.

Our focus at ECF is to lift an entire town through investment, that can only be achieved through long-term partnership and the best results are when partners are working towards shared outcomes over many years.

My first months here have flown by. I’ve loved how varied the role has been,  but now the number one focus is hitting the milestones that matter to our partners. The needs to translate into real impact. We are committed to social impact, but not as a bolt-on. That’s what people should see and feel as these places move forward.

It’s about deepening and strengthening the partnerships we already have, and establishing new meaningful ones, for example with Westmorland and Furness Council.

Looking ahead

One thing I feel strongly about is that regeneration is not a template. Every place is different, and in Barrow for example, during the bid stage, we were on the ground speaking to people and understanding the deep character of the town.

Fundamentally, regeneration is about improving people’s lives through the opportunities that come with a place, by creating welcoming, safe and environmentally resilient communities. It also means reducing long-term pressure on councils by strengthening local economies and building in social impact from the outset.

In ten years’ time, I hope ECF’s involvement in places such as Barrow is seen as a catalyst that ignited the positive future of the towns. Importantly, I hope the communities we work alongside feel proud of the part they have played in shaping that future.