Construction company appointed to deliver 105 affordable homes on Beech Hill site

The contract was awarded through the Efficiency North Framework and will be delivered by Esh’s affordable housing division on behalf of Together Housing Group.

The development in Calderdale will provide a mix of two, three, four, and five-bedroom family homes which will be available for affordable rent.

Esh has been appointed as the design and build contractor to deliver the development working in partnership with design team—–Watson Batty Architects, Alan Wood & Partners, and CPC Project Services.

Chris Hale, Estimating Director at Esh Construction, said: “We are pleased to secure planning permission for this much-needed development of affordable family homes in Halifax. The regeneration of Beech Hill has been long in the making and we’re delighted to be working with Together Housing Group to deliver this new build phase of works to contribute to the area’s transformation.”

Construction work has been ongoing in the Beech Hill area during the past two years to prepare the site for re-development, with the demolition of three dilapidated high-rise blocks, a former council depot, and retail units now complete.

The regeneration of the site is a result of the work of the Beech Hill Project Board which is part of the Calderdale Together Housing Investment Partnership (CTHIP) - a partnership between Together Housing Group and Calderdale Council. Together Housing Group owned the now demolished high-rise blocks and ancillary buildings, while Calderdale Council owned the council depot.

The overall regeneration programme has been supported with funding from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Homes England, Calderdale Council and Together Housing Group.

George Paterson, Director of Property Services at Together Housing Group, said: “We are delighted to have secured planning permission and to be working with Esh on the delivery of new, affordable homes. This milestone is the latest in a journey of significant progress made to regenerate the Beech Hill area, a journey that the partnership has been working on for many years and we are very much looking forward to getting started on site.”

The Beech Hill project is a key part of the CTHIP, which was formed to jointly deliver up to 650 affordable homes across Calderdale over five years through the investment of both organisations’ land holding. This project will support the wider transformation of Calderdale and investment in its housing, transport, public spaces and businesses.

Councillor Scott Patient, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Resilience, said: “We’re really happy to see this major step forward in regenerating Beech Hill. Providing high-quality, affordable homes in this key part of Halifax will give local families more choice and much-needed quality housing.

“It will also contribute towards Calderdale’s wider transformation to grow our economy, reduce inequalities and build a sustainable future. Alongside our investment in major projects like transport and public spaces, the Beech Hill scheme supports our Vision2024 for Calderdale to be a thriving borough where people want to live, work and invest.”

Construction work on the two-year development is due to commence later this year, with a view to the first residents occupying their new homes in July 2022.