Planning permission has been granted for 105 affordable homes as part of the latest phase of work to regenerate the Beech Hill area of Halifax. The scheme has a construction value of £13.5m and will be delivered by Esh Construction’s affordable housing division, following contract award via direct appointment through the Efficiency North framework.
Delivered on behalf of Together Housing Group, the development will provide a mix of two, three, four and five-bedroom family homes which will be available for affordable rent. The site will be landscaped to a high standard, incorporating extensive public open space, a cycle route, and parking facilities.
Construction work has been ongoing in the Beech Hill area over 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.
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.”
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.
Cllr 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.”
Emma Mottram, Director of Operations, EN:Procure, commented: “We are delighted that Efficiency North has been able to promote and enable early contractor involvement in this scheme and the exemplar performance of the team in achieving such a key milestone on a complex site. This project will deliver real social value and support social mobility for Together Housing Group’s local tenant and resident communities through targeted employment and skills during its construction.”
Construction work on the two-year development is due to commence late 2020, with a view to the first residents occupying their new homes in July 2022.
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.”
