CMS advises on Manchester’s groundbreaking £1bn Northern Gateway project as tripartite merger goes live

Manchester, 2 May. CMS is advising Hong Kong-based developer Far East Consortium International (“FEC”) on one of Manchester's most ambitious housing-led regeneration projects - the Northern Gateway – which is expected to generate more than £1bn of investment over the next decade.

FEC will work alongside Manchester City Council to deliver the transformational scheme, which is expected to deliver up to 10,000 new homes over the next decade. The project will extend over 300 acres from Victoria station in the City Centre through the neighbourhoods of Lower Irk Valley, New Cross and Collyhurst to the north.

Real estate partners Mark Haywood and Monica Brij, and corporate partner Howard Gill led the CMS team advising FEC. Pinsent Masons advised Manchester City Council, led by partners Scot Morrison and Helen Robinson.

Mark Haywood, CMS’ Managing Partner for Manchester, comments, “This is an important and exciting project that will transform the City of Manchester, unlocking incredible residential potential to support the growth and development of the north of the City. This partnership deal comes at an exciting time for the firm, as we see our groundbreaking tripartite merger complete, strengthening our position across the UK and internationally and creating a new and compelling sector-focused proposition for clients.”

CMS UK, Nabarro and Olswang have today announced the completion of their transformational merger, creating the 6th largest law firm in the UK by revenue and 6th largest globally by headcount. Trading as CMS, and with 70 offices across 39 countries, the new firm blends scale with an exceptional depth of sector expertise, and is firmly positioned across the UK, with strong presence across Aberdeen, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Manchester, Reading and Sheffield.