10th November 2026

Esh Construction completes £56 million affordable homes scheme two years ahead of schedule

Esh Construction has successfully completed the construction of 296 affordable homes at the £56 million development Hillside Gardens, located in the Grove Hill area of Middlesbrough.

The milestone marks the completion of the final development out of three that Esh’s affordable housing division has delivered in partnership with Thirteen Group in Middlesbrough. Earlier in the year, Kedward Avenue in Brambles Fram, and Union Village in Gresham brought 105 and 145 houses respectively to fruition, supporting Thirteen’s £110 million investment to deliver more than 540 affordable homes to the area.

Mark Binns, Operations Director at Esh Construction said: “The completion of Hillside Gardens marks a major milestone for our affordable housing division. Through a strong and collaborative approach, we’ve handed over the Hillside Gardens development two years ahead of schedule, which is a real testament to the hard work, dedication, and expertise the team brought to the scheme.

“Our partnership with Thirteen was key to the success of this development and providing the Middlesbrough area with more than 540 high quality homes is something we’re extremely proud of.”

Hillside Gardens comprises two, three, and four-bedroom affordable houses and bungalows, all available for affordable rent, built to replace homes demolished more than a decade ago.

One resident who has recently moved to Hillside Gardens is Michelle, who is living in her new affordable rented home with her husband and two of their children. She said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have moved into our new home. It’s a fresh start for our family and we’re excited to begin making memories here.

“One of the best things is being so close to our relatives, with lots of our family already living in the area. Having that support network nearby means a lot to us all, and we’re looking forward to becoming part of the Hillside Gardens community.”

The project was funded through Thirteen’s Strategic Partnership with Homes England and with a grant of £2.8 million from the Government’s Brownfield Housing Fund. Tees Valley Combined Authority was responsible for approving the Brownfield Housing Fund.

Sharon Thomas, Chief Investment and Property Officer at Thirteen said: "Seeing residents settle into their new homes and begin building their futures here at Hillside Gardens is what makes projects like this so rewarding.

“Not only is this the largest development Thirteen has ever delivered, it represents years of investment and collaboration to create high-quality homes and places where people can thrive.

“With £350m of Strategic Affordable Homes Programme funding recently secured from Homes England, we're now looking ahead to building on this success and delivering thousands more affordable homes our communities need.”

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “Seeing Hillside Gardens now complete is a fantastic milestone for Grove Hill and for Middlesbrough.

“As we grow our economy, attract investment and create good jobs, it’s just as important that we continue investing in our communities and deliver the high-quality, affordable homes local people need.

“Hillside Gardens is a great example of that, breathing new life into this part of the town and creating a neighbourhood where families can put down roots and be proud to call home.”

Esh’s housing infrastructure division, Lumsden & Carroll, delivered roads and sewers construction works, as well as plot works throughout the scheme, including services, paving, topsoiling, and block paving.

Its civil engineering division also completed Section 278 works on the project, including creating a new signalised junction on Keith Road, multi-modal pathways for cyclists and pedestrians, road surfacing, and new kerb lines.

Through Esh’s Constructing Local Strategy, a raft of social value initiatives have been delivered alongside the project. A £25,383 donation saw pupils from Beech Grove Primary School’s specialist autism provision benefit from enhanced learning, sensory and outdoor spaces, boosting learning opportunities for students as they receive specialist support.

Alongside this, the project has also provided 474 weeks of apprenticeships and 37 weeks of T Level placements, helping young people gain valuable skills and experience as they begin their careers in a construction-based environment.

Esh Construction worked in partnership with IDPartnership Northern, 3e Consulting Engineers Limited, Elliott Associates, and ONE Environments to deliver the scheme.

Esh Construction completes £56 million affordable homes scheme two years ahead of schedule

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