Our Story

The Genr8 story began in 2008 when the company was launched from our initial home in Castlefield by former AMEC Developments chairman John Early and colleagues Richard Ingham and Mike Smith.

With financial backing from Chelsfield plc and industry visionaries Elliott Bernerd and Sir Stuart Lipton, our goal was to bring transformational, mixed use regeneration to UK town and cities where it was needed most.

We pride ourselves on building long term relationships with our partners and providing innovative solutions to the many challenges faced in our urban areas to so that we might bring about lasting and sustainable change.

We have delivered a lot, but there is still much to do…

2008
Genr8 Founders

GENR8 ESTABLISHED BY JOHN EARLY, RICHARD INGHAM, AND MIKE SMITH

2009

GENR8 SECURES ITS FIRST SCHEME IN THE COPLEY VALLEY

A transformational project in partnership with Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council is agreed.

Halifax
2010

GENR8 SIGNS A REGENERATION PARTNERSHIP WITH STOKE-ON-TRENT CITY COUNCIL

1.25 million sq ft mixed use business and resident district set to be delivered in the heart of the city, known as Smithfield.

Stoke-On-Trent
2012
GKR carousel (1)

GENR8 AND KAJIMA PARTNERSHIPS JOIN FORCES IN ROCHDALE

Genr8 Rochdale, the Genr8 Kajima joint venture, completes its development agreement with Rochdale Council to deliver phased town centre regeneration.

2013

PHASE I OF SMITHFIELD STOKE-ON-TRENT COMMENCES

2014
Genr8 office interior

THE TEAM LEAVES ITS HOME FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS IN CASTLEFIELD AND TAKES UP RESIDENCE AT NO.3 THE PARSONAGE IN MANCHESTER CITY CENTRE. SPACE TO GROW

2015

FIRST PHASE AT COPLEY VALLEY COMPLETES

Two Smithfield and public realm

NOS 1 & 2 SMITHFIELD COMPLETED

Comprising 200,000 sq ft of Grade A offices handed over to Stoke-on-Trent City Council

2017

GENR8 ENTERS INTO PARTNERSHIP WITH HILTON WORLDWIDE SIGNING ITS FIRST FRANCHISE AGREEMENT IN STOKE.

Smithfield Hilton Garden Inn
2018

GENR8 CELEBRATES ITS 10TH BIRTHDAY

GENR8 ROCHDALE COMPLETES £80 MILLION FUNDING DEAL WITH M&G INVESTMENTS

Construction of the 200,000 sq ft Rochdale Riverside retail and leisure complex commences.

Rochdale Riverside

FUNDING SECURED TO DELIVER THE NEXT PHASE AT SMITHFIELD STOKE-ON-TRENT COMPRISING 151 BUILD TO RENT APARTMENTS AND A 140 BED HILTON GARDEN INN

2020
Rochdale gallery 1

ROCHDALE RIVERSIDE COMPLETES AND OPENS FOR TRADE TRANSFORMING THE HEART OF ROCHDALE TOWN CENTRE

Works commence to deliver the next phase, Upperbanks including BTR Apartments and a 146 bed Hampton By Hilton.

Rochdale

STOKE-ON-TRENT’S FIRST BESPOKE BUILD TO RENT SCHEME OPENS

Known as Clayworks, the units are 95% let within six months.

Hilton opening

HILTON GARDN INN STOKE OPENS

Smithfield Hilton Garden Inn

GENR8 KAJIMA REGENERATION LTD INCORPORATED

Following the success of the Rochdale Riverside scheme, Genr8 and Kajima formalise their joint venture as ‘GKRL’, the platform from which to deliver transformational regeneration throughout the UK.

Genr8 Kajima
2021
Genr8 Kinder 2021

THE TEAM REUNITE AFTER 16 MONTHS OF COVID-INDUCED WORKING FROM HOME

A 14km hike around Kinder Scout followed by a pub lunch were a great way to reconnect after so long apart.

2022
newcastle uni

GKRL WINS ITS FIRST PROJECT

Fighting off stiff competition to form a joint venture partnership with Newcastle University to deliver Newcastle Health and Innovation Neighbourhood, a truly groundbreaking project providing inter-generational living, commercial and research facilities.

Newcastle

HOT ON THE HEELS OF NEWCASTLE, GKRL IS SELECTED AS PARTNER BY KNOWSLEY BOROUGH COUNCIL

To deliver new civic offices as well as residential and leisure in the heart of Huyton Town Centre.

Huyton
2023
CWR image 20.3.23 2

3 FOR 3! ANOTHER GKRL PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCED

GKRL in partnership with Places for People is selected by Winchester City Council to deliver the Central Winchester Regeneration Project.

Winchester

ROCHDALE UPPERBANKS COMPLETES

Rochdale Upperbanks
St Anns groundbreaking Oct23

GROUND BROKEN AT ST ANN'S

An important milestone in the construction of the New St Ann’s Hospice in Heald Green, which we’re proud to be project managers for.

St Ann's Hospice
Genr8 office
Genr8 office
Genr8 office
The beauty (and challenge) of what we do is that every day is different so there is no 'typical' week.
Richard Ingham- Genr8 Partner