Durham contractor Esh Construction has announced its largest-ever contract after securing a £56m deal to create hundreds of homes on Teesside.
The company will build 296 homes at Grove Hill in Middlesbrough in its third affordable housing partnership with Thirteen. A groundbreaking ceremony has marked the start on site for the scheme which will see two, three and four-bedroom houses and bungalows built to replace homes demolished more than a decade ago.
The scheme is part-funded through Thirteen’s strategic partnership with Homes England and with a grant of £2.8m from the Government’s Brownfield Housing Fund. Tees Valley Combined Authority is responsible for approving the money from the Brownfield Housing Fund.
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Esh announced two further schemes in Middlesbrough for Thirteen, worth £42m, earlier this year in which 250 affordable homes for rent will be created at sites known as Kedward Avenue in Brambles Farm and Union Village in Gresham. Esh’s chief executive Andy Radcliffe said: “This scheme represents the largest affordable housing development we have secured.
“As such, it really is a proud moment to stand alongside our client Thirteen and representatives from all partners who helped make this development happen, to officially mark the start on site. Combining Grove Hill with developments at Kedward Avenue and Union Village, we are set to deliver more than 540 new affordable homes with Thirteen across Middlesbrough in the coming years.
“These schemes form part of ambitious plans to regenerate areas of the town. Through a raft of social and economic value initiatives we will endeavour to create a lasting legacy within the local community.”
The sites form part of Thirteen’s planned £110m investment to deliver more than 540 affordable new homes in Middlesbrough. Thirteen’s chief executive Matt Forrest said: “We are delighted work is underway to build these vital new homes in Grove Hill and so much hard work has gone into making it happen.
“It is a fantastic milestone and another step towards bringing modern, high-quality and affordable new homes to the area. We are pleased to be working with our partners to deliver these fantastic homes in the heart of Middlesbrough.”
Esh Construction will work in partnership with IDPartnership Northern, 3E Consulting Engineers, Elliott Associates and ONE Environments to deliver Grove Hill and the first homes will be available by the autumn of 2025.
