106
3
2024
6
THE CHALLENGE
Together Housing Group required the demolition of 3 tower blocks in Halifax, which had stood empty for over 10 years and were subject to trespass and vandalism, to transform the site into 106 good quality, new affordable homes within walking distance of the town centre.
Beech Hill is a key scheme in the Calderdale Together Housing Investment Partnership, which was established in 2017 between Together Housing Group and the Council to deliver up to 650 affordable homes across Calderdale to help address the housing crisis.
THE OUTCOME
Together Housing Group made good use of EN:Procure’s suite of frameworks.
Demolition and Consultancy
To clear the way for this development, Together Housing Group used EN:Procure’s Asbestos & Demolition Framework to appoint Rhodar as demolition contractor and The Testing Lab as specialist asbestos consultants to demolish 3 tower blocks between June 2018 and August 2019. The Employer’s agent and designer SDA were also procured through EN:Procure’s Consultancy Framework.
The demolition achieved:
- 100% time and cost predictability
- 150,000 tonnes of brick rubble
- 700 tonnes of metal waste
- 210 tonnes of general waste
- 140 tonnes of hard core recycled
- over 100 operatives on site during key peak work periods.
New Build
Esh Construction were appointed to construct the £16.5m scheme by Direct Selection through EN:Procure’s New Build Framework. Selection was based upon the framework’s pricing and capability matrices which indicated Esh would provide the most economically advantageous solution, whilst meeting scheme requirements.
Esh Construction worked with Together Housing Group to develop the scheme design from outline planning to full planning approval.
Pre-Construction Services
Esh entered into a Pre-Construction Services Agreement with Together Housing Group to undertake extensive site investigation and preparatory works to assist in design development and agreement of a construction sum.
Works included site investigations, topographical surveys, services diversions, knotweed removal, drainage survey and preparation of strategy reports for full planning application.
The EN:Procure team worked closely with Together Housing Group at every stage of the project, supporting the intelligent approaches to procurement and social value embedded within the New Build framework. This proactive preconstruction collaboration was critical in addressing and resolving all the complex issues.
The scheme has a variety of homes, from 2-bedroom to 5-bedroom, all for affordable rent, to meet the needs of the local community and help address the housing crisis.
The scheme was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, with work to build the new homes starting on site in late 2020. The first residents moved into their new homes in summer 2023.
Through working with our partners, not only is this development bringing much-needed affordable housing to this part of Halifax, but it will also help to address the borough’s wider objectives to reduce inequalities, develop a thriving town and take climate action.
Hilary Brady, Director of Development | Together Housing Group
The Beech Hill development represents real change for the community and partnership working at its very best. As a local contractor, we have maximised the benefits of our local supply chain by re-investing more than £8.1 million into the Yorkshire region to date throughout the scheme. While this site has presented a number of challenges, we are proud to reach this key milestone and hand over 20 new homes for local people to start their next chapter.
Simon Woodward, Operations Director | Esh Construction
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