Walker Morris has announced its role in securing the Court of Appeal’s permission to appeal the Competition Appeal Tribunal’s (CAT) judgment regarding two loans, totalling £140 million, awarded by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to Manchester developer Renaker.
Walker Morris has advised the Weis Group in challenging the award under the Subsidy Control Act 2022. The original challenge argued that the loans were unlawful subsidies provided on non-market terms that distorted the market in and around Manchester, an argument the CAT dismissed in July 2025.
In granting permission to appeal, the Court of Appeal found that all 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 set to be heard before the end of July 2026.
Sarah Ward, Partners in the Competition team, commented: “We’re pleased with the outcome of the permission to appeal hearing. The Court of Appeal’s decision to grant our client the right to challenge the GMCA’s loan awards is a significant step forward. We look forward to presenting our case and addressing the novel issues raised by this matter.”
Image provided by Walker Morris
