The Midlands has huge potential. We have a collective ambition to succeed
24.01.25 3 min read
Having launched our Birmingham office in 2022, November 2024 marked our two-year anniversary in the Midlands.
Over the last 12 months we’ve built real momentum, with new and strengthened partnerships, community conversations, and exciting approaches to masterplanning and placemaking.
Our team has grown in strength, skill and capability. Our colleagues are taking responsibility and ownership for impactful regeneration right across the region. Whether in Wolverhampton, Solihull, or West Northamptonshire our work is picking up real pace.
In Wolverhampton, ECF submitted a planning application for City Centre West. It’s an opportunity to elevate the city’s offer by delivering new urban living at scale, boosting footfall and driving wider opportunity. Subject to planning, we hope to be able to commence delivery in 2025.
City Centre West, Wolverhampton
An emerging mixed-use masterplan for Mell Square in Solihull has been showcased through a series of community conversations. As we continue to refine our approach, we will submit a planning application over the coming months and could also start delivering this year.
Elsewhere in Solihull, we launched a new website and brand for Arden Cross – the £3.2bn regeneration opportunity facilitated by the HS2 Interchange station – and signed a Development Agreement with Arden Cross Ltd.
Building on relationships with the University of Warwick, exciting plans for a new HealthTech Campus at Arden Cross also continue to develop. We’ll be working with our regional partners to promote the opportunity nationally and internationally during 2025.
Arden Cross
Finally in West Northamptonshire, ECF’s newest partnership – covering the Greyfriars regeneration opportunity in Northampton – continues to strengthen. Already in 2025, we have entered a Development Management Services Agreement (DMSA), as a signal of our joint intent.
Greyfriars, Northampton
Despite our success, 2024 was a challenging 12 months across the regional market.
However, in the West Midlands – as Birmingham City Council continues its financial recovery and the Mayor of the West Midlands progresses his agenda – there is much to be optimistic about.
The opportunities are there and the collective ambition to succeed is palpable.
Now is the moment to re-invigorate the regional narrative and build on the ‘It Starts Here’ campaign. Launched by the West Midlands Growth Company last year, it’s a powerful platform which all regional partners can buy into.
As Muse, we’ll do our bit to support the region. We are already looking ahead to MIPIM and UKREiiF, working with public and private sector partners to come together and amplify the narrative.
This includes working alongside our sister company, the national housebuilder Lovell. Our partnership was strengthened in the Midlands during the last year, and we see huge potential to collaborate and grow.
Both part of the Morgan Sindall Group, we have complimentary skills and can work together to meet the bespoke challenges of any regeneration opportunity.
Elsewhere, the East Midlands Combined County Authority presents exciting new opportunities. With a fresh Mayor and incoming Chief Executive, the organisation will have a significant impact and support bold regeneration and placemaking.
Over the next 12 months, we will start to see tangible delivery in the Midlands – from planning consents to groundbreaking – as well as new partnerships.
In doing so, we’ll not only continue to build momentum across our own pipeline of place-based regeneration, but support growth and opportunity for communities right across the region.