Muse, the development arm of the Morgan Sindall Group, has contributed to a marked improvement in the parent company’s first-half performance for 2026 while continuing to advance a major housing proposal for Warrington.
Financial results and regional activity
The Morgan Sindall Group reported a rise in adjusted profit before tax of 21 per cent for the first half of 2026, alongside an 8 per cent increase in revenue to £2,562 million. Adjusted operating profit for the period stood at £111.5 million.
| Metric | H1 2026 |
|---|---|
| Revenue | £2,562 million |
| Adjusted operating profit | £111.5 million |
| Adjusted profit before tax (change) | Up 21% |
Within the group, Muse North West said the first half of the year had been positive, with progress made on several projects across the region.
Warrington town-centre proposal: what’s planned
Muse has submitted plans for a 100 per cent affordable apartment scheme on the former DW Gym site on Academy Way in Warrington town centre. The proposals, lodged with Warrington Borough Council in March, would see the construction of two six-storey buildings comprising 240 one- and two-bedroom apartments arranged around a landscaped central courtyard. The gym building has been closed since August 2020 and was previously approved for demolition.
- Site: former DW Gym, Academy Way, Warrington town centre
- Housing: 240 apartments (one- and two-bed), 100% affordable
- Buildings: two six-storey blocks around a central courtyard
- Planning: formal submission made in March
"It has been a positive first half of the year for our north west business, contributing to the wider performance of Morgan Sindall Group, while making strong progress across a number of key projects."
The company said its north-west pipeline provided a strong platform for the remainder of the year. Across Muse nationally, the business continues to advance plans for around 22,000 new homes alongside retail, leisure, logistics, workspace and public-space projects. Nine major projects were reported to be under construction across the business, with an expectation of a further eight site starts in the second half of 2026.
Local implications
The DW Gym site sits within the town-centre regeneration area. If approved and delivered, the Muse scheme would add a significant number of affordable homes to Warrington’s central housing offer and repurpose a long-vacant site. That could influence local housing availability and support town-centre footfall, while construction activity would bring short-term jobs and supply-chain work to the area.
The proposals do not, however, indicate a wider mix of tenure beyond affordable apartments, nor do they set out a confirmed timetable for construction within the published results. Residents and councillors will be able to review detailed plans submitted to Warrington Borough Council as the formal planning process proceeds.
The Morgan Sindall update underlines how national housebuilding and development businesses contribute to local schemes: strong group finances can assist delivery of projects, but planning approvals and detailed contracts are still required before work begins on the ground.
