Legacie is one of Liverpool’s most active property development companies. A survey conducted in Q4 2025 revealed that the business was responsible for five of the seven active cranes in the city centre. John Morley (pictured), CEO of Legacie, is playing an active role in shaping the city’s future.
Through landmark projects such as The Gateway and Heap’s Mill, Legacie has become closely associated with large-scale regeneration and ambitious residential development. In this interview with 9AM Business, Morley discusses the opportunities and challenges facing the sector, the growing importance of placemaking and his long-term vision for Liverpool’s continued growth.
How did you get into the industry?
I’d always been interested in the built environment so chose to enroll on a quantity surveying course at Liverpool John Moores University after leaving school. It was important for me to stay in Liverpool as I knew I wanted to shape the future of my city.
My main role is to creatively navigate Legacie to ensure the business continues to deliver bold, transformative commercial and residential projects. The business is operating all over the UK now, not just Liverpool. We’ve got schemes in Manchester, Luton and Cheshire.
I lead the Executive Board and wider team, working closely with our Chief Executive Gavin Currie.I also oversee the work of our in-house programmes such as Second Chance Scheme, which provides meaningful employment opportunities to ex-offenders, and the Legacie Foundation which supports three local North West charities.
Tell us about Legacie’s work in Liverpool?
Legacie is, undeniably, the leading developer in Liverpool at the moment. Out of the seven tower cranes currently active across the city centre, five of them are delivering Legacie schemes.
In Spring, we topped out on The Gateway, our largest development in the city to date, marking the occasion with a visit from the Secretary of State for Housing and Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region. The Gateway will deliver over 650 homes across four towers and will transform an under-utilised part of the city.
We’ve also just reached practical completion on a scheme, Central Park, that we have supported Nexus Residential on. Central Park has transformed an abandoned brownfield site, that had become a magnet for antisocial behaviour and urban decay, into a modern and high-quality residential village. Amidst this, we’re working to transform an 18th-century Grade II listed former mill into luxury apartments at Heap’s Mill.
But away from the schemes themselves, we set up the Legacie Foundation – a fundraising and social impact initiative dedicated to improving the lives of local people and communities.
What do you like and dislike most about the sector?
When you work in the built environment, you have a direct impact on the identity of our cities and regions. We still admire and talk about buildings that were constructed in the 1800s, and what we’re doing today is contributing to that legacy for future generations. It’s rewarding to be part of shaping places that will hopefully stand the test of time.
What I dislike most is the perception some people still have of the industry, especially in the North West. Many don’t fully appreciate the positive impact development has on everyday life. As a sector, we need to do more to communicate the benefits we bring – whether that’s creating jobs, supporting local supply chains, contributing to economic growth, or regenerating rundown areas. These are achievements that should be recognised and celebrated far more.
What would you change about the sector?
One area where the sector could see meaningful change is in the regulation, allocation and use of Section 106 contributions. It has been estimated that more than £8 billion in developer contributions, including funds raised through the Community Infrastructure Levy, remains unspent each year across England and Wales – this is a situation that clearly needs addressing.
There should be a more transparent and accountable process to ensure these funds are directed towards the communities and projects they were originally intended to support. When invested effectively, developer contributions can play a vital role in improving local infrastructure, enhancing public spaces and delivering valuable community facilities, making it essential that the system fulfils its intended purpose.
Where do you see the biggest untapped opportunities – regional cities, suburban schemes or urban high-density?
It is no secret that the regeneration and development sector in Liverpool has suffered in recent years. Trying to navigate a business through this difficult period was tricky – but I think we’re in a better place now. I meet with investors and they have an appetite to be spending their money here and we have a vast amount of talented people delivering major schemes that will make an impact for generations to come – this is a huge opportunity for growth in Liverpool.
Improved connectivity, hybrid working and relative affordability are driving sustained inward in inner-city areas such as the Baltic Triangle. The development of the new train station here will be vital in ensuring the area continues to thrive. It’ll also help create a mixed-use place that retains talent and attracts employers. That is why I’m passionate about delivering disciplined placemaking across the Legacie portfolio, as opposed to just focusing on volume-led expansion.
For me, the next wave of opportunity isn’t simply about building higher; it is about building smarter – creating environments that prioritise flexibility, wellbeing and operational efficiency.