Willmott Dixon Developments and Milligan have been appointed by Brentwood Borough Council through Pagabo’s Developer Led Framework to bring forward the transformation of The Baytree Shopping Centre, supporting the council’s wider ambitions for Brentwood town centre.

The proposal, which was approved by the council in September, centres on a new leisure quarter at the front of the site, anchored by a boutique or premium-format cinema, alongside restaurants, bars and upgraded public space around the historic ruins of the Chapel of St Thomas à Becket. The rear of the site will be prepared separately, opening up the potential for new homes in the future.

Over £6m of council funding will be invested in the scheme, helping create a new destination that gives people more reasons to visit and spend time in Brentwood town centre.

Joe Kerby, regional head of land and development (London & East) at Willmott Dixon Developments, said: “This redevelopment is a strong example of a council taking a proactive approach to repurposing a town centre asset to meet the needs of the local community. Together with Milligan, our role is to help turn that ambition into a scheme that is viable, fundable and deliverable, bringing our combined development and regeneration experience to the project.

“Over the coming months, we’ll work closely with local businesses, community groups and residents to help shape a redevelopment that supports Brentwood’s long-term success.”

The Baytree project builds on an established working relationship between Willmott Dixon Developments and Milligan. The two businesses are also working together through a 10-year regeneration partnership in Torbay and, more recently, were appointed by Dorset Council as regeneration partners to help shape the future of Weymouth.

Stuart Harris, CEO at Milligan, said: “The Council has shown real ambition in taking ownership of this opportunity and investing in the long-term future of Brentwood town centre. Successful placemaking is about creating destinations that give people more reasons to spend time together, whether that’s through leisure, culture, food and drink or simply high-quality public spaces.

“At Milligan, we’ve helped bring forward regeneration projects across the UK that transform underperforming sites into places with a stronger sense of identity, activity and community. We’re excited to be working alongside Brentwood Borough Council and Willmott Dixon Developments to help create a destination that can play a significant role in the town’s future success.”

Next steps for the project include progressing detailed design work, submitting a planning application and beginning early engagement with existing occupiers of the centre.

People in Brentwood have heard talk about Baytree for a long time. This is different. We now have a named delivery partner, a funded scheme, and a clear set of milestones that we’ll report back on publicly at every stage. We’ve got a little way to go before work starts on the ground, but I’m seriously excited about this project and the whole new set of opportunities it brings for everyone who lives, works and plays in Brentwood.

Councillor Gareth Barret
Chair of the Assets and Strategy Committee at Brentwood Borough Council

Three development manager appointments extend national coverage across the North, South and Wales, four months after the business launched at UKREiiF

Willmott Dixon Developments has appointed three development managers as it scales its team against a development pipeline worth more than £1bn.

The appointments extend the business’s regional coverage across the North, South and Wales , four months on from its launch at UKREiiF in May. Willmott Dixon Developments brings together ten years of Willmott Dixon’s regeneration, development and investment expertise under a single national platform, giving councils, public sector organisations, investors and development partners a clearer route to support on complex schemes.

Momentum since launch

Since launching in May, Willmott Dixon Developments has continued to build momentum by working with councils, investors and development partners to unlock complex regeneration opportunities. Current projects include acting as long-term regeneration partner in Torbay across a multi-site town centre and waterfront portfolio, leading masterplanning and planning strategy for North Quay in Great Yarmouth, and working with Dorset Council on a Regeneration Partnership helping to shape Weymouth’s future.

Over the past ten years the team has delivered more than 1,000 homes, including Ashton Rise in Bristol, a 133-home mixed tenure scheme for Bristol City Council with 40 per cent affordable social rent.

David Atkinson, Director of Development and Investment at Willmott Dixon Developments, said: “The launch of Willmott Dixon Developments brought together the expertise we’ve been successfully delivering on projects for more than a decade, uniting it under a dedicated development and regeneration business.

“As demand from partners continues to grow, attracting talented people with strong public-sector understanding, commercial expertise and regional insight is critical. Tom, Emily and Kassim bring a wealth of experience that will strengthen our ability to help partners unlock opportunities and accelerate delivery of complex projects across the UK.”

Three appointments across three regions

Emily Cockle and Tom Lowry join as senior development managers, with Kassim Bahsoon appointed as development manager. Emily will support partners across the South, Tom across Wales and the Southwest, and Kassim across the North.

Tom Lowry joined in June from regeneration developer Urban Splash, bringing experience in planning, regeneration and development delivery. During his time there he worked on schemes including Royal William Yard in Plymouth and Swansea Civic Centre, having previously held roles at Plymouth City Council.

Tom said: “This is an exciting time to join Willmott Dixon Developments as the business continues to grow its presence across the UK. I am passionate about delivering regeneration that creates long-term value, and I look forward to working with partners to bring forward projects that transform places and support thriving communities.”

Emily Cockle joined from BCP Council (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council) and is a regeneration and development specialist who has led transformational projects in senior roles across both the public and private sectors. Her expertise in place-based visioning, stakeholder engagement and unlocking large, complex sites has helped shape projects including Rochester Riverside in Kent, the Daedalus Enterprise Zone, Whitehill and Bordon, Fawley Waterside, the Solent Freeport in Hampshire, and Holes Bay in Dorset.

Emily said: “I’ve joined Willmott Dixon Developments at a pivotal point, to offer my skills, expertise and insight to our partners looking to unlock lasting value. I am honoured to work alongside an outstanding team, to deliver lasting benefits for communities across the South.”

Kassim Bahsoon joined in August from Property Alliance Group, supporting projects across the North. An MRICS chartered planning and development surveyor, he has almost a decade of experience across residential, commercial, mixed-use and industrial projects, including The Limes in Didsbury and Reedham House in Manchester.

Kassim said: “Having spent my career working across such a broad range of projects, I’m looking forward to bringing that experience to a business with such a commitment to investing in the North. I hope in this new role I can help drive innovative and effective development that can deliver real, lasting value for communities.”

Further appointments are planned as Willmott Dixon Developments scales its regional teams across England and Wales.

“The launch of Willmott Dixon Developments brought together the expertise we’ve been successfully delivering on projects for more than a decade, uniting it under a dedicated development and regeneration business.

“As demand from partners continues to grow, attracting talented people with strong public-sector understanding, commercial expertise and regional insight is critical. Tom, Emily and Kassim bring a wealth of experience that will strengthen our ability to help partners unlock opportunities and accelerate delivery of complex projects across the UK.”

David Atkinson
Director of Development and Investment at Willmott Dixon Developments

Willmott Dixon Developments, master developer of Quayside, Rioja Estates, outlet retail specialists, and Great Yarmouth Borough Council have submitted a planning application for the transformational mixed-use regeneration project, which will reconnect Great Yarmouth town centre with its waterfront and create a vibrant new destination for residents, businesses and visitors.

Located at North Quay, the privately funded development will bring together outlet retail, leisure, hospitality, residential and public realm in a comprehensive masterplan designed to drive long-term economic growth and strengthen the town’s appeal as a regional destination.

Independent analysis by ADE Regeneration forecasts that Quayside will attract around two million additional visits per year, support more than 1,200 on-site jobs, and generate approximately £62 million in net additional Gross Value Added (GVA) annually once operational.

At the heart of the scheme will be an open-air outlet village featuring around 70 premium and high street brands, complemented by a new food and beverage offer, family entertainment attractions, a leisure hub, public spaces and a 120-bedroom hotel. Up to 60 new homes will also be delivered as part of the development, helping create a thriving mixed-use neighbourhood that remains active throughout the day and evening.

The proposals have been shaped through extensive public consultation, with feedback helping refine the design, improve public spaces and pedestrian connections, enhance landscaping, and strengthen the relationship between the development and Great Yarmouth’s historic assets.

Quayside has been designed to meet modern sustainability standards, with proposals including biodiversity net gain, sustainable drainage systems, permeable paving, green roofs and native planting. Improved pedestrian routes, upgraded crossings, enhanced wayfinding and new active travel connections will strengthen links between Great Yarmouth railway station, the waterfront and the town centre, improving accessibility for residents and visitors.

The project is being delivered through a long-term partnership between Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Willmott Dixon Developments and Rioja Estates. Supported by £20 million of Government Levelling Up Fund investment secured by the Council, the plans will improve connections between the railway station, town centre and waterfront while creating a sustainable new destination for residents and visitors.

Councillor Trevor Wainwright, leader of the Labour Group at GYBC, said:

‘’The detailed work that has gone into this planning application means our ambitious vision for Great Yarmouth’s neglected North Quay can now be realised. Residents have, and will continue to have, a role in helping shape a development that delivers huge benefits for the community with new jobs and housing at a site that will be a major asset for the borough and the whole of Norfolk and beyond. Quayside will complement and add value for existing businesses and provide an incentive for people to spend more time in our town.’’

Giles Membrey, Managing Director of Rioja Estates, said:

“We know that when you introduce a high‑quality, value‑led destination, which is what an outlet is, and combine it with strong leisure, overall footfall rises, dwell time increases and the wider town centre benefits. Evidence from outlets at Ashford, Gloucester and Portsmouth demonstrates that they act as catalysts for investment, employment and renewed confidence. Quayside will complement Great Yarmouth town centre and help it to thrive.”

The planning application can be viewed online at https://planning.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/OcellaWeb/planningSearch and entering the following reference number:  06/26/0620/O. Hard copies may be viewed at both The Town Hall and at Great Yarmouth library.

We’re delighted to have reached this important milestone for Quayside and Great Yarmouth. The submission of this planning application is the culmination of extensive collaboration with Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Rioja Estates, local stakeholders and the community to develop a vision for North Quay that reflects the town’s ambitions for the future.

This is an exciting opportunity to unlock the potential of a key waterfront site, creating new jobs, homes, leisure opportunities and public spaces while strengthening connections between the town centre and waterfront. We believe Quayside can play a major role in supporting Great Yarmouth’s long-term growth and prosperity, and we hope these proposals can help realise that ambition.

Matthew Knight
National Head of Development (Investment) at Willmott Dixon Developments