Contractor bags Hackney estate regen

Higgins Construction has been appointed to build the £40m second phase of the regeneration of Colville Estate in Hackney, east London.

Phase two of the scheme will see the contractor build 40 homes for private sale, which will pay for 70 new council homes for social renting and shared ownership, along with 129 sq m of new retail space.

Higgins Construction is to begin work shortly with completion expected in 2018 on the estate in Hoxton.

Paul Cooke, new business director for Higgins Construction, said: “We are delighted to be awarded the contract for the second phase of Colville Estate. As an organisation we are committed to taking on local labour and will be creating employment opportunities for local people through our training and apprenticeship schemes.”

The regeneration of the Colville Estate – part of a borough-wide council housebuilding programme over 18 sites to deliver 2,760 new homes -  is taking place in a number of phases over a 15-year period, with the first phase, Bridport House, completed in 2011, delivering 41 new Council homes for social renting.

In July 2015 it was announced that Anthology had been appointed as the development partner for the third phase, to build 198 homes for private sale, which will also help pay for the new Council homes for social renting and shared ownership across the rest of the estate in the absence of any government funding. Phase 3 works will begin in parallel with those on Phase 2.

Councillor and cabinet member for housing Philip Glanville said: “The Council has pledged its commitment to providing new homes and community facilities for residents, and it’s welcome news that Higgins Construction will be starting work soon.”