On 9 October 2025, under the leadership of Ian Seeley, Partner, and Head of Construction & Regulatory at Ellisons, industry professionals from across Essex gathered for the Construction & Development Briefing. Bringing legal, architectural, and strategic voices together, the event addressed one central question: how can complex heritage projects be delivered in an era of financial pressure, regulatory scrutiny, and public expectation?
Through two landmark regeneration case studies, the Jumbo Water Tower in Colchester and Broomhill Lido in Ipswich, the briefing explored the realities of long-term development: where vision meets viability, and where cultural legacy must be justified through economic credibility.
Legal Foresight and Project Viability
Opening the discussion, Ian Seeley underscored the increasing importance of early legal foresight in development planning. From procurement risk to regulatory compliance, Seeley highlighted that projects are often “won or lost long before a planning application is submitted,” with governance, funding structure, and stakeholder engagement now as crucial as physical design.
His framing set the tone for a conversation focused not only on architecture, but on strategy one where collaboration between legal, financial, and technical teams is essential to unlock delivery.
Jumbo Water Tower: Reviving a Civic Icon
Zoë Skelding, Partner at Purcell, offered a powerful examination of the Jumbo Water Tower’s transformation. A Victorian engineering marvel, Jumbo now requires a new role to justify its survival. Skelding emphasised a key truth for heritage developers, grant funding alone is not enough. Rising conservation costs and climate obligations require layered funding: public, private, and philanthropic.
Every intervention, from installing a discreet insulated skin to reintegrating public access, must defend both authenticity and ambition. As Zoe made clear, Jumbo is not simply being restored; it is being reinterpreted as a public asset for future generations.
Broomhill Lido: Persistence Against the Tide
Will Ludkin, Partner at KLH Architects, shared the extraordinary saga of Broomhill Lido, closed since 2002, yet still passionately defended by its community. The project’s 20-year timeline has navigated changing political will, fundraising failures, and economic volatility.
Despite securing Heritage Lottery support, inflation and operator viability brought renewed uncertainty. Yet Will illustrated that heritage projects are not abandoned because they lack worth, only because they lack sustained ownership. Broomhill endures due to those who refuse to let it be forgotten.
“Heritage projects are not saved by funding alone, they are saved by narrative, partnership, and the promise of future public use.”
The Hidden Battle: Funding, Risk, and Regulatory Reality
Across both case studies, one thread was clear, projects succeed in the documents, long before they succeed on site. Legal structuring, risk management, public engagement, and narrative-building now form the unseen scaffolding of development.
Key sector lessons included:
- Multi-source funding is essential, particularly for heritage-led schemes
- Narrative is strategic, not sentimental, funders require measurable legacy
- Early legal insight mitigates risk, shaping viability before procurement
- Public-private-community partnerships are the new foundations of delivery
Legacy as the Ultimate Outcome
While architecture and finance took centre stage, legacy remained the final measure. Whether reopening a lido or reactivating a skyline, the briefing reinforced that heritage is only truly protected when it returns to public use.
These projects remind the sector that resilience, political, financial, and human, is as important as design. As was evident throughout the briefing, the future of development lies not only in construction, but in conviction.
A Sector Defined by Purpose
The Construction & Development Briefing reaffirmed Ellisons’ role in convening essential industry dialogue. By bringing together legal leadership, architectural innovation, and project advocacy, the event highlighted a powerful truth: when expertise aligns with community purpose, even the most uncertain projects can be brought back to life.