We explore the legal and commercial considerations that underpinned the successful sport-led regeneration scheme for Bramley-Moore Dock and Liverpool Waters.
Read moreRegeneration
Our regeneration team turns ambition into reality, supporting the creation of cities, towns and communities that are built for the future. We make places work, get deals done and ensure that every project delivers.
Talk to usAs a purpose-led, independent law firm and certified B Corp, we’re immensely proud to be an award-winning leader in regeneration. We work closely alongside developers, public sector partners and investors to cut through complexity, create opportunity, enable progress and deliver growth.
Our full-service regeneration team has over 120 experts in real estate development, planning, public procurement, housing and construction law who deliver the legal and commercial insights needed to break down barriers, accelerate progress and make places work.
We believe that regeneration is a powerful force for good. From revitalising town centres to constructing strategic infrastructure and housing, we play a central role in breathing new life into communities across the UK. Our approach balances legal precision with commercial acumen. Our work helps to ensure that regeneration delivers improved quality of life, the conditions for economic growth and a cleaner environment — enabling our clients’ visions to be realised and projects to deliver benefits for people, places and communities.
We have the scale to deliver complex projects and the personal touch to adapt to your vision. We’ve worked on major regeneration projects, including acting as the sole advisors on significant waterfront schemes such as Liverpool Waters and Chatham Waters for The Peel Group with an estimated development value of £5bn. We are also advising Lancaster City Council on the £100m Eden Project Morecambe in Lancashire and secured a rapid seven-month turnaround on Oldham Council’s £550m public sector procurement project to kickstart its regeneration strategy. Our lawyers have been involved in a diverse range of projects, ranging from student accommodation and distribution centres to large infrastructure projects like the Mersey Gateway Bridge.
Recognised by The Legal 500 for our involvement in “some of the biggest and most complicated development deals in recent times”, we're on the shortlist for 'Outstanding Legal Team of the Year – National & Mid-Sized Firms' at the Property Awards 2025, won Legal Team of the Year at the EG Awards 2024 and were named Legal/Professional Team of the Year for commercial property at the Property Awards 2023.
Find out more about how we make places work and our specialist capabilities below.

We make places work
There’s a lot of talk about growth and how to make it happen. The answer might be right in front of us — our towns and cities. Are they truly built for the future? Do they create opportunity, enable progress and deliver growth for everyone?
We believe that they can be. We use our legal expertise to transform complexity into clarity — and show just what can happen when people, place and purpose work together.
We’re trusted to help developers build with confidence, investors move with certainty and public sector partners deliver on their promises. From acquisition to approval, we ensure that every project moves with pace to turn plans on the page into spades in the ground.
Our mission is clear. We work with pace, precision and purpose to ensure that no project is left standing still.
We accelerate progress. We get deals done. We make places work.

Pace, Precision & Purpose
We combine pace, precision and purpose to create a powerful partnership that gets deals done.
1. PACE
We don’t wait for things to happen — we take action and make them happen. From first call to final contract, we drive every project forward with determination and agility.
2. PRECISION
With deep expertise across development, planning, housing, construction and corporate law, our award-winning property team delivers with precision — applying detailed legal insights to guide complex projects efficiently in a way that’s tailored to your goals.
3. PURPOSE
We believe in working with those who share our values to deliver projects that help communities across the UK to realise their potential.
Leading regeneration lawyers
Our extensive team acts as a one-stop-shop for all your needs.
Our practice is led by Iain Gamble, who oversees our real estate offering and has worked across critical regeneration and infrastructure projects, alongside Roy Barry, who leads our development team and its negotiations of high-profile development and infrastructure projects, including office, transport, aviation and logistics developments, together with the subsequent lettings and capital disposals.
They work closely with experts Rupert Gill, our housing and communities lead, Helen Brown, our housing development lead, Michael Winder, our procurement lead and Elspeth Christie, our construction lead.
Recognised by




“We worked with Roy Barry and his team on our strategic partnership with Salford Council. I was particularly impressed with the manner in which the Brabners team got to grips with the history and commercial background fast and then ran with it to find legal solutions with a collaborative approach. The team’s deep sector knowledge and collaborative approach were instrumental in navigating complex legal issues to get us into contract at pace.”
Claire Slinger, Legal Director, Muse Places
“Brabners has an exceptional ability to deal with complex regeneration projects with a calm collaborative approach that instils confidence and trust in both us and our public sector partners. The team’s deep understanding of the development process has helped us complete a detailed multi-phase development agreement for our Hind Street Development as well as supporting us with procurement and planning advice. This has enabled us to achieve our commercial objective whilst meeting our clients’ requirements.”
Steve Parry, Managing Director, Ion Developments
“Brabners has worked with the Peel Waters team on the Liverpool Waters project since it began. The team’s knowledge of what is one of the largest regeneration projects of its kind is essential to us delivering on our 30-year vision for the area. The collaborative approach and commercial pragmatism from Iain Gamble and his team allows us to navigate any legal issues that arise and ultimately helps us meet our objective of transforming the city’s iconic waterfront and bringing life back to the historic docklands.”
Chris Capes, Development Director, Liverpool Waters
“We worked alongside Brabners and the Council to deliver the procurement of a private sector partner for the regeneration of Oldham Town Centre. As a project team we managed to get from first legal dialogue session to award in just seven months. That is fast on a project of this scale and complexity. It demonstrates how both the CBRE and Brabners teams are quick to deliver positive outcomes in public procurement for regeneration, which can sometimes suffer from slow and cumbersome processes. The sector knowledge and collaborative approach of Roy Barry and Michael Winder in particular were instrumental in navigating complex legal issues to achieve the Council’s regeneration objectives.”
Adam White, Executive Director, CBRE
“It’s not just the size of the business, it’s what you do with it. That is what led our judges to select this year’s legal award winner. A firm that is purpose-led, true to its roots and putting its business where its values are.”
EG Awards 2024
“Iain Gamble manages to seamlessly combine his role as head of development with undertaking complex property transactions of substantial scale. His calm, non-confrontational and pleasant manner pays dividends in negotiations as it discourages counterparts from taking fixed positions and he’s seen as honest and trustworthy by all parties.”
The Legal 500, 2024
“Iain Gamble has an innate confidence and depth of knowledge. His knowledge of deal structures and issues is excellent and his drafting is clear and concise. He can draw on a wealth of knowledge of recent transactions that support the current negotiations. Fees are fair and his overall approach helps to get deals done within a reasonable timeframe and cost.”
The Legal 500, 2024
Regeneration case studies

Liverpool Waters — reviving Liverpool’s docks
We’re the main legal advisor to Peel Waters on Liverpool Waters, one of the UK’s largest regeneration projects. Spanning over 60 hectares along 2.3km of historic dockland, the £5bn vision is transforming Liverpool’s waterfront into a sustainable, mixed-use destination. Delivering a vast and multi-faceted regeneration scheme requires consistent, long-term support and a team that can assist Peel to adapt its plans to changing demand over time. The scale of the site means that it’s a complex place to build on and our deep knowledge enables Peel to navigate those complexities. We supported Peel with new homes, Everton FC’s stadium, the Isle of Man ferry terminal, a cruise liner hub, a city-scale district heating network and the property and construction elements of the creation of a new 2.1-hectare park, one of the city’s largest green spaces. Liverpool Waters is breathing new life into derelict dockland — unlocking thousands of new homes, jobs and landmark assets for the city. It’s a regeneration project of national significance, driving long-term economic growth while reconnecting the community with its iconic waterfront and extending the city centre.
Read more
Regenerating Oldham — a purpose-led partnership
We advised Oldham Council on the procurement of a private sector developer partner to deliver a transformational town centre regeneration. Muse Places was appointed following the conclusion of a competitive dialogue process. With 2,000 new homes planned and millions of pounds in investment secured, the scheme marks a significant milestone for Oldham’s future. Facilitating such a major, complex regeneration required precision and pace — particularly during the in-depth legal and procurement process. Our real estate team worked swiftly to conclude legal dialogue to award within just seven months — an exceptional timeframe for a scheme of this scale. This partnership lays the foundation for a thriving, sustainable town centre with new homes, jobs, green spaces and opportunities for future generations. It reflects our purpose-led approach — driving regeneration that directly improves everyday life for residents, supports local businesses and brings long-term value to the community.
Read more
Renewing the civic heart of Wythenshawe
We acted as legal partner to support Manchester City Council’s appointment of Muse Places as its development and investment partner for the £500m regeneration of Wythenshawe town centre. The scheme will transform the area through new homes, community and commercial spaces and a renewed civic heart. Given the nature of the assets involved, this project demanded a collaborative approach with a swift process to secure a partner capable of delivering at scale and with purpose. We worked with pace and clarity to help conclude the appointment of Muse Places — ensuring a robust legal foundation for another long-term regeneration journey. The partnership will create 1,750 new homes — including significant affordable housing—alongside green public realm, a culture hub and a landmark ambition to establish the UK’s first Positive Energy District. It’s a once-in-a-generation investment that will bring new life, opportunity and sustainability to one of Manchester’s most historic communities.

Mell Square — reimagining the centre of Solihull
We advised on the appointment of Muse Places as the development partner for the regeneration of Mell Square — working alongside Solihull Council and its advisors to support the creation of a vibrant new vision for the town centre. The emerging masterplan blends town centre living, retail, leisure and green public spaces, setting a bold course for Solihull’s next chapter. We supported the structuring of a complex development agreement and the establishment of the development partnership between Muse and the Council. The project required careful consideration of public sector procurement rules and property interests within an active and high-profile town centre. The project will deliver a dynamic, inclusive neighbourhood — enhancing Solihull’s retail and evening economy, creating new homes, jobs and training opportunities and re-energising the town centre for generations to come. This is a true collaboration that responds to community voices and secures the town’s position as a thriving regional destination.

Regenerating Croxteth — a community-focused partnership
We advised Cobalt Housing on the acquisition, funding and development of key sites in Croxteth, supporting its ambitious regeneration strategy for the Stonedale area. Our work included land assembly, securing Brownfield Housing Fund grants and structuring development agreements with Lovell Partnerships to deliver affordable homes and revitalise the community. Delivering complex, multi-phase regeneration required strategic land assembly, close collaboration with Liverpool City Council and careful structuring of funding arrangements. We supported by navigating the legal complexities while maintaining momentum to ensure that Cobalt could meet urgent housing demand. By working closely with our partners, we helped to unlock a £23m investment for 70 homes at Stonedale Crescent, a £12m development of 88 homes on the former Showcase Cinema site and Brownfield Housing Fund grants. The partnership created high-quality affordable homes and community improvements, reflecting our commitment to regeneration that strengthens neighbourhoods and delivers lasting social value.
Regeneration insights
Regeneration — our specialist capabilities
Our award-winning commercial development and regeneration lawyers efficiently facilitate positive outcomes for complex, high-profile deals.
We go the extra mile to help you achieve successful construction projects.
Our dedicated housing team is one of the largest in the UK. We handle the full range of legal matters for the housing sector.
We handle all legal elements, from putting in place leases, licences and other documents.
We work in collaboration with our clients’ in-house teams and agents to secure the best possible results.
Our specialist planning lawyers excel in providing comprehensive planning advice and support across all aspects of development projects.
We help public sector buyers and private sector suppliers to navigate public procurement law.

Brabners is a purpose-led independent law firm.
Our independence allows us to be objective, principled and provide a service with heart and personality.
We’re on a mission to make the difference for our clients, people and communities. Proudly anchored in the North since 1815, we serve all of England and Wales.
Through our independent charity, The Brabners Foundation, we partner with a wide range of local charities.
In 2022, we became the largest law firm in the UK to achieve B Corp certification, which recognises that we're committed to operating as a force for good.

Northern Ambition
The collaborative network for purpose-led businesses. We’re building a more sustainable and innovative tomorrow.

Sustainable Business
In 2022, we proudly became the UK’s largest law firm (and the first outside London) to become B Corp certified.

Community Impact
We channel the energy of our public-spirited people and clients towards improving our local communities.