Willmott Dixon has announced the launch of Willmott Dixon Developments, a dedicated national business focused on regeneration, residential, student accommodation and public-private partnership (PPP) schemes.
The new company brings together the group’s existing development, investment and regeneration capability – built up over nearly ten years – under a single national platform. It is led by David Atkinson (pictured), director of development and investment, and Chris Wheeler, national head of land and development, who will be supported by regional development teams across England and Wales.
The business has set out an ambition to scale activity across four areas where it has an established track record:
- Regeneration and development management: working with councils to shape sites, masterplans, procurement routes and delivery strategies.
- Residential and direct investment: deploying Willmott Dixon capital selectively to unlock viable projects and align partner interests.
- Student accommodation (PBSA): partnering with universities to shape, fund and deliver purpose-built student accommodation.
- PPP and strategic partnerships: longer-term public-private models for complex programmes and social infrastructure.
Willmott Dixon Developments is already leading on a series of high-profile regeneration schemes to bring forward portfolios of sites rather than one-off projects. Projects are underway in Torbay, Great Yarmouth, and in November last year, alongside joint venture partner Milligan, the team was appointed by Dorset Council to a Regeneration Partnership shaping Weymouth’s future.
Graham Dundas, CEO at Willmott Dixon, said: “Willmott Dixon Developments is an important next step for our group and creates a clear national platform for the development, investment and regeneration work we have been doing successfully for nearly a decade. Over that period our specialists have developed a track record for unlocking complex sites, turning early-stage ambition into viable, fundable and deliverable schemes.
“This launch establishes Willmott Dixon Developments as a dedicated national business with the people, capital, partnerships and network to help councils and other partners move faster from ambition to delivery. By combining genuine development and investment expertise with the construction insight that makes plans buildable, we are well placed to play a significant role in shaping the places this country needs.”
Atkinson said: “We exist to solve the problem we hear most often from council and university partners: how to move stalled or complex sites from ambition to delivery. Our role is to act as a single, accountable partner that can shape the scheme, structure the funding, share risk where appropriate, and bring the certainty that comes with knowing how a project will be built.
“That blend of development, investment and delivery insight is rare in the market, and it is why we are leading long-term, multi-site regeneration programmes in places like Torbay, Great Yarmouth and Dorset. We are established players in this space, not market entrants. Launching Willmott Dixon Developments simply makes it easier for partners to see what we offer and how to work with us.”
