By Simon McCabe, Chief Executive, Scarborough Group International
As we approach Scarborough Group’s 50th anniversary in 2026, I find myself reflecting not only on how far we’ve come, but also on where we’re heading – the lessons we’ve learned, the partnerships that have shaped us, and how we can continue to make a meaningful contribution to the UK’s built environment in the decades ahead.
When my father, Kevin McCabe, left school at fifteen initially working on a building site, he couldn’t have imagined the scale of what Scarborough Group would one day become. From those early beginnings, through recessions, recoveries and international expansion, seeing us operate across more than a dozen countries, what’s kept us moving forward is a simple, unwavering belief that regeneration is about people as much as it is about property.
That philosophy has guided us for nearly five decades. From our roots in Scotland to major projects across the wider UK, Europe, the Far East and North America, we’ve built our reputation on long-term thinking, trusted partnerships and delivery that makes a difference.
Ours has never been a linear journey, and that’s what defines us. We’ve evolved with the market, adapted to change and stayed true to the fundamentals of creating value through placemaking, partnership and purpose.
Today, we remain focused on delivering large-scale regeneration projects that are transforming cities, communities and economies. At Thorpe Park Leeds, Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, Brunswick in Scarborough, Flaxby Park near Harrogate, Middlewood Locks in Salford, Queensferry One in Rosyth and Base in West Edinburgh, we’re creating places that balance commercial strength with genuine social impact.
Each of these projects is rooted in the same ambition; to bring forward vibrant environments that work for modern life. That means high-quality workspace, homes, community assets, green infrastructure and amenities that support wellbeing. Together, these schemes represent millions of square feet of new employment space, thousands of homes and, perhaps most importantly, thousands of new opportunities for people to live, work and thrive.
If there’s one constant through Scarborough Group’s history, it’s collaboration. True regeneration doesn’t happen in isolation, it relies on partnerships built on trust, expertise and a shared vision of success.
Over the years, we’ve built enduring relationships with some of the most respected names in the industry, from design and construction partners to lenders, investors, legal advisors and agents, local authorities and various government bodies, many of whom have become an extension of our own team. Some of those relationships go back the full fifty years, while others are more recent, formed on the strength of our reputation as a reliable and collaborative partner.
These are not transactional connections; they’re built on continuity and mutual respect. When you work with the same teams year after year, across projects and market cycles, you develop an instinctive understanding of how to deliver, efficiently, responsibly and with shared accountability. That’s been one of the secrets to our longevity and consistency as a business.
It’s also what allows us to take on complexity with confidence, whether navigating planning challenges, managing large-scale infrastructure or creating the frameworks that underpin long-term, multi-phase regeneration.
As we look ahead to the next 50 years, the landscape for regeneration is becoming ever more challenging. Rising costs, higher interest rates and a planning system that too often slows rather than enables delivery all contribute to a growing viability gap. Add to that the pressure of sustainability targets and shifting investor sentiment, and the path to delivery can look increasingly narrow.
But challenges also create opportunity. Across the UK, there’s an enormous appetite for regeneration, from local authorities seeking delivery partners to investors looking for stability and long-term value. The question is how we, as an industry, collaborate to turn potential into progress.
That’s why partnerships remain at the heart of Scarborough Group’s approach, whether through public-private collaboration, joint ventures or, increasingly, development management structures via our newly-relaunched Teesland Development Services division that bring the right expertise to the table at the right time.
It’s also why, as part of our 50th-anniversary programme, we’ll be launching a thought leadership series exploring the ideas and issues shaping the future of property and regeneration. Through open conversations with partners, investors, local authorities and industry leaders, we’ll be delving into the topics that matter most, from planning reform and funding innovation to sustainability, social value and the evolution of our towns and cities.
Our hope is that it becomes a platform for collaboration and honest debate, a space to think collectively about what the next 50 years of regeneration should look like.
Across the UK, Scarborough Group has delivered more than 9.3 million sq ft of commercial space and 4,000 homes, with a further 10 million sq ft of commercial development and around 2,000 homes in the pipeline. But those figures only tell part of the story. What really matters is the impact; the jobs created, the communities supported, and the places brought back to life.
As we approach the Group’s 50th anniversary year, our focus remains exactly where it’s always been; creating places that endure, partnerships that deliver, and a legacy we can be proud of for generations to come. Looking ahead, we’re also exploring opportunities to sensibly expand once again into mainland Europe, a natural step for a business that has always looked outward and embraced new challenges.
And while the scale of our projects may have grown, the mindset that built this business hasn’t changed. We remain determined, pragmatic and progressive, working with humility but driven by the same pull, push and shove attitude that has underpinned our success from the very beginning.
It’s that combination of grit, consistency and belief that will keep Scarborough Group strong as we build for the next fifty years.
