Peel Waters Managing Director to Deliver Keynote at International Waterfront Conference

James Whittaker MRICS, the Managing Director of leading waterside regeneration business ‘Peel Waters’, has been announced as the keynote speaker at the Waterfront Development Conference, hosted by the University of Nottingham (3^rd – 6^th November 2025).

The prestigious international event is being delivered in partnership with IACP-EU, Liverpool School of Architecture (Urban Form and Social Space), Tianjin University, Beijing Jiaotong University, Nanjing University of Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University; will bring together academics, practitioners, and policymakers to explore innovative approaches to waterfront development, conservation, and regeneration.

This year’s conference will be taking place in Liverpool, which has one of the most widely recognised waterfronts in the world. Delegates have signed up to take part in the conference from across the globe – including China, India, and throughout Europe; reflecting the global significance of the topics under discussion that will cover heritage, conservation, environmental sustainability, climate adaptation, smart technology, and socio-economic inclusivity.

As one of the UK’s most ambitious waterfront developers, Peel Waters has been at the forefront of transforming historic docklands and waterside locations into thriving communities The Peel Waters portfolio started with the design, creation, and delivery of MediaCity at Salford Quays. The portfolio now spans over 900 acres, across six UK-wide sites, delivering large-scale regeneration projects, creating new jobs, economic growth, new homes and new public realm across the country.

Paving the way for a vibrant new waterfront community

The conference schedule includes a tour of Liverpool Waters, Peel Waters’ 60-hectare regeneration project along Liverpool’s waterfront. As the city’s largest brownfield site, delegates will take a walking tour through the different neighbourhoods within the emerging Liverpool Waters district, witnessing how much development has taken place across the former docklands, taking in standout projects including: Everton’s 52,888 capacity Hill Dickinson Stadium, The City of Liverpool Construction Campus and Wyld Sauna – The UK’s first public floating sauna. Delegates will also have the chance to visit Central Docks; work officially started on delivering the £71million infrastructure works last month that will pave the way for a vibrant new waterfront community within Liverpool Waters.

James Whittaker MRICS is the Managing Director of Peel Waters (part of The Peel Group), overseeing the vision and delivery of six of the UK’s largest waterfront regeneration sites as well leading on the development of Port Salford, Western Gateway, Embassy Village homeless scheme and TraffordCity – the UK’s foremost retail and leisure, destination. James will share insights on Peel Waters’ innovative approach to waterside regeneration and the critical role of collaboration in delivering long-term impact. Peel Waters has forged strong partnerships with international universities and global experts, ensuring that the latest thinking in sustainability, design, and placemaking informs its developments.

The critical role of collaboration in delivering long-term impact

In his keynote speech James will cover some of his most recognised projects including Therme Manchester – the UK’s first urban wellbeing resort designed to deliver an immersive experience combining water, nature, and relaxation; Millers Quay – the multi-award winning, multi-coloured residential development in Wirral Waters, consisting of 500 apartments; and Embassy Village – a new community of 40 high quality homes designed to help people break the cycle of homelessness by providing a home, skills training and wraparound support.

Dr Fei Chen, Founding Director of IACP-European Chapter, Director of Urban Form and Social Space research group at Liverpool School of Architecture, said: “It was our privilege to co-host this international conference on such a critical and timely topic. For decades, our research network and group have been dedicated to cutting-edge research on urban development and regeneration. We are excited to leverage this event to forge strong collaborations with key industry partners like Peel Waters.”

Professor Tim Heath, Director of Postgraduate Studies and Programme Director for the MArch Sustainable Urban Design at the University of Nottingham, commented: “This conference on waterfront development comes at a key time in terms of the regeneration of these important assets in cities around the world. It is also an opportunity to enhance the important collaboration between academia, local government, and industry with the significant representation of universities, together with Liverpool City Council, and Peel Waters.”

Dr Amy Tang, Director of IACP-European Chapter, Conference Chair and Programme Director for the MArch Advanced Architecture Design at University of Nottingham, said: “It is a privilege to host this international conference in collaboration with such outstanding academic and industry partners. The Waterfront Development International Conference reflects our shared commitment to advancing sustainable, inclusive, and innovative approaches to urban waterfront regeneration. This event offers an exceptional platform for global dialogue—linking research, practice, and policy—to shape the future of our cities’ most vital and dynamic edges.”

The University of Nottingham’s Waterfront Development Conference will gather experts from across the world to discuss best practices and the challenges of creating resilient, inclusive, and future-proof waterfront communities. Peel Waters’ participation underscores its position as a leading figure in waterside regeneration, not just in the UK but on the global stage.

Further information on the conference can be found at: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/conference/fac-eng/waterfront-development/index.aspx