Following a process led by Alvarez and Marsal Corporate Finance and Savills Capital Advisors, Cerberus has acquired a majority stake in Mac Mic Strategic Land Ltd.

The partnership brings significant investment and additional capacity to execute on projects, explore new opportunities, and expand into new regions — while staying true to the values that have defined the business since its founding in 2009 by Mactaggart & Mickel.

Founded in 1992, Cerberus manages approximately $65 billion in assets across credit, private equity, and real estate strategies. Their long-term mindset and hands-on approach align closely with Mac Mic’s mission to promote land in a responsible, collaborative, and community-focused way.

Andrew Mickel, senior director at Mac Mic Strategic Land, believes the joint venture comes at a critical time for the housing sector. Since the UK Government took office in July 2024, housing has been declared a national priority — with a pledge to deliver 1.5 million new homes and new legislation designed to unlock infrastructure and accelerate planning decisions.

In Scotland, a declared national housing emergency and the adoption of National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) have created fresh opportunities to promote land through emerging Local Development Plans.

“This investment offers an exciting new chapter — it is a huge vote of confidence in what we do,” Andrew Mickel said. “It enables the continued evolution of the business, giving us the firepower to scale up, accelerate and deliver more — not just more sites, but more of the outcomes that matter.”

He added: “Our heritage has given us specialist knowledge across all aspects of land, the planning system and communities. What sets us apart is our commitment to promoting land with care, integrity, and ambition. This exciting partnership with Cerberus enhances our ability to act quickly, invest more deeply, and support our landowners and partners even more effectively.

“A heartfelt thank you to all our incredible colleagues whose dedication has been key in getting us to this milestone. As we turn the page to a new phase of growth, I’m looking forward to what we’ll achieve next.”

A Cerberus spokesperson said: “Mac Mic Strategic Land has a strong track record of enabling the delivery of high-quality homes and shaping long-term, sustainable communities across the UK. We look forward to supporting their mission and collaborating with homeowners, communities, and partners to bring much-needed housing to the UK.”

Sam Isaacs, director, Savills Capital Advisors, added: “Mactaggart & Mickel has curated a high-quality UK-wide portfolio of well over 30,000 residential units. This partnership with Cerberus, a world-class investor, unlocks immense potential that will support in directly addressing the UK’s pressing need for new housing. It was a privilege to advise the Mactaggart & Mickel team and work with Cerberus and Ambassador on such an important strategic transaction in the sector and extend our market leading track record.”

Mactaggart & Mickel retains a shareholding in the business, with Andrew Mickel continuing as senior director and Ross Mickel remaining a director. David Gaffney, of Ambassador Group, Cerberus’s UK asset manager, takes on the role of chairman and chief executive, with Ambassador Group’s portfolio management team supporting the business in an operating partner role.