Now known as the ECF, the group is a regeneration partnership between Homes England, Legal & General, and Muse, and the three partners are putting in a total of £100 million in equity and the same amount in debt.

This will help accelerate a programme of work that includes major regeneration schemes, such as the £90 million commercial and residential-led redevelopment of St Helens town centre in Lancashire (pictured), where VINCI is lined up for the construction work.

A start on-site for this scheme is expected in early spring, which was also awarded £20 million from the government’s Levelling Up Fund in January 2023.

The English Cities Fund was set up in 2001 with an initial investment of £100 million and works with local government and the private sector to kick-start major regeneration schemes.

With the additional funding, the ECF now expects to help deliver more than one million sq ft of commercial space and 17,000 new homes plus additional social infrastructure to support health and wellbeing by 2032.

Among the major schemes set to be accelerated with the extra funding is a major £858 million regeneration of Bradford to include 1,000 homes, an urban village, and a shopping centre.

ECF is working with Bradford Council on the plans and a public consultation on the plans closed on January 7. Glenigan’s industry information suggests that a planning application will be submitted by the end of this year.