Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen appoint Willmott Dixon Developments and Cityheart as regeneration partner

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council and Torfaen County Borough Council have appointed Willmott Dixon Developments, working with regeneration specialist Cityheart, as their Strategic Development and Investment Partner for South East Wales.

Willmott Dixon said on 29 October that both councils approved the appointment after a procurement process run through Pagabo's Developer-Led Framework. The partner will review sites across Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen over the next 12 months to shape a pipeline of projects covering homes, jobs, infrastructure and inward investment.

Blaenau Gwent council said the initial pre-development work would be delivered under a 12-month agreement. Torfaen council said the arrangement ensured both councils retained control over key decisions on land, funding and project approvals.

Councillor John Morgan, Cabinet Member for Economy and Place at Blaenau Gwent Council, said: "Working with a strategic partner will strengthen our ability to unlock complex sites and bring forward projects that make a real difference to residents across the county borough."

The procurement

The appointment follows a decision by both councils in July 2025 to jointly procure a long-term Strategic Development and Investment Partner, according to Blaenau Gwent council. Its cabinet approved the appointment on 6 October 2026, with the report recommending Willmott Dixon.

The parties describe the arrangement differently. Willmott Dixon's release says Cityheart is "in joint venture" with Willmott Dixon Developments, while the Torfaen and Cityheart announcements say Cityheart is working in partnership with the Developments business. Cityheart said the partnership had been set up to provide additional development expertise to the councils.

Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen describe themselves as federated authorities that have committed to working together on regeneration. Blaenau Gwent council said the two were the first local authorities in Wales to adopt the Marmot approach.

Councillor Joanne Gauden, Torfaen Council Executive Member for Economy, Skills and Regeneration, said: "A strategic partnership will act as a key delivery mechanism to translate ambition into action."

She said both councils were committed to addressing inequalities and that projects would align with the Marmot principles and the well-being objectives in Torfaen's County Plan.

The partners

Willmott Dixon launched Willmott Dixon Developments at UKREiiF on 20 May 2026 as a national development and investment business. It is led by David Atkinson, Director of Development and Investment, and Chris Wheeler, National Head of Land and Development, and has set out four focus areas: regeneration and development management, residential and direct investment, student accommodation, and PPP and strategic partnerships.

The business is already acting as long-term regeneration partner in Torbay across a multi-site town centre and waterfront portfolio. In September 2026 it appointed Tom Lowry as senior development manager covering Wales and the Southwest.

Willmott Dixon said the Welsh appointment built on an existing relationship between Cityheart and the wider Willmott Dixon Group. Cityheart described the group as privately owned and established in 1852.

Chris Wheeler, National Head of Development (Regeneration) at Willmott Dixon Developments, pointed to the group's record in the area, citing Ebbw Vale Leisure Centre and the Gwent Archives. Willmott Dixon's Cardiff team refurbished a Grade 2 listed former office in Ebbw Vale to create the Gwent Records Office, an £11m scheme completed in October 2011 that formed part of Blaenau Gwent's regeneration of the former steelworks.

The framework

Willmott Dixon and Blaenau Gwent council both name the Pagabo Developer-Led Framework as the procurement route, though the announcements do not say which iteration of the framework was used. Pagabo announced a £47bn Developer Led Framework on 15 December 2020, with nine lots and a term of four years plus an optional 16-month extension. Willmott Dixon and GRAHAM Cityheart were among the 30 development companies awarded places on it.

The site review across both county boroughs is due to run for 12 months from the appointment.