"Walker Morris Secures Court of Appeal Permission to Challenge £140M GMCA Loans Under Subsidy Control Act"

"Walker Morris has successfully secured permission from the Court of Appeal to challenge the Competition Appeal Tribunal's decision regarding two loans totaling £140 million awarded by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to developer Renaker. Representing the Weis Group, Walker Morris argues the loans were unlawful subsidies under the Subsidy Control Act 2022. The appeal, which raises important and novel issues about the subsidies regime, is scheduled to be heard by July 2026."

Walker Morris advised the Weis Group in challenging the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s (GMCA) award of two loans totalling £140 million to Manchester developer Renaker under the Subsidy Control Act 2022. The transaction involved the Weis Group contesting the legality of the loans, arguing that they constituted unlawful subsidies provided on non-market terms that distorted the market in and around Manchester. The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) dismissed the original challenge in July 2025, but the Court of Appeal has now granted permission to appeal, finding that the grounds for appeal have a “real as opposed to fanciful prospect of success” and raise “novel issues of importance” to the subsidies regime. The appeal is scheduled to be heard before the end of July 2026. Sarah Ward, Partner in the Competition team at Walker Morris, played a key role in advising the Weis Group on this matter.

"Walker Morris Secures Court of Appeal Permission to Challenge £140M GMCA Loans Under Subsidy Control Act"

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