An £18 million contract which will deliver new affordable homes on the site of three demolished tower blocks in Middlesbrough has been appointed to Esh Construction.
Known as Kedward Avenue, the 105-home development has been brought forward by Thirteen in partnership with Middlesbrough Council, Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston, Homes England, and other partners.
Esh Construction will build apartments, bungalows, and two, three and four-bedroom houses on two sites adjacent to each other in the Brambles Farm area of Middlesbrough.
Modern methods of construction (MMC) will be used throughout the scheme, with all homes built with a timber frame. Ten of the properties will also be built as ‘net zero-carbon.’
Esh’s Pre-Construction Director, Chris Hale, said: “This is a significant contract award for our affordable housing division, and we’re delighted to continue our successful working relationship with Thirteen.
“Extensive work from all parties has gone into making this scheme viable, including a value engineering exercise which will see all properties built from timber frame, providing faster build times as well as environmental efficiencies and a lower carbon footprint.”
Thirteen’s executive director of development, Joy Whinnerah, said: “This long-awaited milestone is another step towards bringing much-needed new homes to Brambles Farm, and so much hard work has gone into making it happen.
“Following the announcement to demolish the blocks, back in 2018, a dedicated relocations team worked closely with residents to ensure they all found suitable new homes. Once completed, we were finally able to demolish the blocks last year, and we’re so pleased that we’re a step closer to delivering these fantastic new homes.
“This is an exciting scheme, and we’re thrilled Esh Construction has been appointed as the design and build contractor.”
Middlesbrough Mayor, Andy Preston, said: “These are exactly the sort of modern, high quality and affordable homes Brambles Farm has been crying out for.
“They’ll help to transform this important part of Middlesbrough with family homes that will stand the area in good stead many years to come.
“This is just the latest example of our fantastic partnership with Thirteen, which goes from strength to strength.”
The development will replace the tower blocks known as Milford, Portland, and Jupiter, which were demolished last year. The Jupiter site will include 15 bungalows, while Milford and Portland will be home to 90 new homes, including a mix of bungalows, two, three and four-bedroom homes and four-bedroom townhouses.
The homes will attract families, older people and young professionals and all properties will be for affordable rent.
Enabling works have commenced and the main construction phase will get underway in the new year. Esh will work in partnership with Hall & Partners, BSBA Architects, iD Civils and Billinghurst George & Partners throughout the scheme.
Extensive work from all parties has gone into making this scheme viable, including a value engineering exercise which will see all properties built from timber frame, providing faster build times as well as environmental efficiencies and a lower carbon footprint.”
