Paradise Birmingham

MEPC, the wholly owned development and asset management subsidiary of the international business of Federated Hermes, is this month celebrating its 75th anniversary.

The company is behind the £700 million Paradise Birmingham scheme in the centre of the city that is developing up to 10 new buildings across the 17 acre site.

 “In every age, opportunity offers itself to those with imagination and enterprise,”

– Claude Leigh, Founder, MEPC

Founded in October 1946 by Claude Leigh as the Metropolitan Estates & Property Corporation as a pioneer of social housing, MEPC was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. Over the years, it has been one of the largest and most successful property companies in the UK, cementing its unparalleled track record in real estate development and management.

MEPC was acquired by the international business of Federated Hermes in 2020, adding its industry leading asset and development management expertise to Federated Hermes’ existing capabilities. Having worked closely together on a number of projects, the two business were aligned on their approach to real estate, focusing on schemes that have a positive impact on communities and the environment while delivering outstanding financial returns for investors.

Today, MEPC is developing some of the most exciting technology-led business parks and urban regeneration projects in the UK. These include Milton Park, which provides 3m sq ft of accommodation to a range of science and technology businesses, and Silverstone Park which has a further 665,000 sq ft of space, with planning consent for a further 2m sq ft.

In addition, MEPC has five major urban quarter schemes including Wellington Place, Leeds, NOMA, Manchester, Paradise, Birmingham, St Mary Le Port, Bristol, Skypark, Glasgow.

James Dipple, Chief Executive Officer at MEPC, added:

“MEPC has been an industry leader and stalwart since its inception 75 years ago, pushing the boundaries of what real estate investment and development can achieve. To continue the legacy of Claude Leigh and work as part of a business with such pedigree is a great personal honour. More importantly, the business is set up for its next 75-year chapter with a strong team in place which can help us adapt to the future challenges our industry faces. The real estate market has changed dramatically since 1946 and today our focus is on delivering schemes which can fundamentally improve the communities that use them while making meaningful environmental improvements.”

Chris Taylor, Chairman of MEPC and CEO of Real Estate at the international business of Federated Hermes, said:

“MEPC has perhaps the most established history of any property company and I’m thrilled that we can celebrate its 75th anniversary with the business on such firm footing. Federated Hermes’ partnership with MEPC will allow the two companies to reimagine what successful real estate development looks like. Our industry has a part to play in solving some of the great challenges of the 21st century including climate change and supporting social cohesion.”