Willmott Dixon has launched Willmott Dixon Developments, a nationwide development and investment business focused on regeneration, housing, purpose-built student accommodation and public‑private partnership (PPP) schemes.

The move builds on almost ten years of work helping councils, universities and government partners unlock complex sites.

The new arm was introduced at UKREiiF, the UK real estate forum at the Royal Armouries in Leeds, in front of investors, developers, local authority leaders and public sector partners.

Willmott Dixon Developments consolidates the group’s development, investment and regeneration capabilities under one national platform. It is led by David Atkinson, Director of Development and Investment, and Chris Wheeler, National Head of Land and Development, supported by regional teams across England and Wales.

The business plans to scale activity across four established areas:

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- Regeneration and development management, collaborating with councils on site strategy, masterplanning, procurement and delivery routes.

- Residential and direct investment, using Willmott Dixon capital selectively to unlock viable projects and align partner interests.

- Purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), partnering with universities to shape, finance and deliver new student homes.

- PPP and strategic partnerships for long-term, complex programmes and social infrastructure.

The company is already advancing multi-site regeneration programmes. In Torbay, it is acting as a long-term regeneration partner across a town centre and waterfront portfolio. In Great Yarmouth, it is leading masterplanning and planning strategy to unlock North Quay, a key station quarter mixed-use redevelopment. 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, Chief Executive Officer 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."