Esh Construction is one of the North of England's largest privately-owned contractors. From infrastructure upgrades to new affordable housing stock, Esh has been busy on the ground kickstarting multiple new projects midway through 2024.
Infrastructure developments
Esh is delivering a new bus station in Bishop Auckland after being awarded a £6.4 million contract by Durham County Council. The contract follows on from Esh’s £1.8 million package to carry out enabling works on the site.
The new station will offer modern and accessible facilities to passengers, with eight stands and improved passenger information. It will also house a retail kiosk, CCTV, and more toilet facilities, including an accessible toilet, changing places unit, and a parent and child facility.
Alongside it will be a new 124 space car park, with high quality paving, street lighting, landscaping and cycle stands.
The scheme forms part of an £11.8 million investment in the town with funding secured through the Future High Streets Fund and an additional £3.6 million from Durham County Council.
Meanwhile, at the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP), the County Durham headquartered contractor has commenced work to widen the A1290. The project will see carriageway upgrades delivered on the A1290 to dual the existing carriageway between the A1290/A19 junction and just beyond the southern entrance of International Drive within IAMP.
The £6.7 million contract was awarded through NEPO and will be delivered in partnership with IAMP LLP, a limited liability partnership established by South Tyneside Council and Sunderland City Council to promote and deliver IAMP – one of the largest live schemes in the country.
Sustainability in Seaham
Esh Construction has begun work on the first phase of affordable housing at County Durham’s first ‘garden village’, marking a key milestone in the development of a landscape-led community.
Registered provider, Karbon Homes, has partnered with Esh as it commences the delivery of 750 affordable homes at Seaham Garden Village.
The new homes will be built to the very latest building standards, ensuring they are fit for the future, and will boast a range of energy efficient technologies, including solar photovoltaic panels and battery storage units. The aim is for all 750 homes to be net zero carbon.
The garden village will include a new primary school, convenience retail and health and wellbeing facilities. Taking advantage of the location on the Durham heritage coast, around 50% of the garden village will be dedicated to managed green space and a range of landscapes and spaces, with over three miles of landscaped paths and cycle routes.
Retrofitting existing homes
With the UK Green Building Council claiming there are 15 million homes in the UK that need retrofitting before 2030, the Government launched Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) opportunities for local authorities to provide energy efficiency upgrades and low carbon heating.
Darlington Borough Council in partnership with Hartlepool, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Councils, secured up to £2.1 million from the HUG Phase 2 scheme for retrofit work to be delivered in up to 120 eligible homes across the region, with Esh’s retrofit division overseeing the home improvement upgrades through the Home Energy Efficiency Tees Valley (HEET) partnership.
Energy efficiency upgrades and low carbon heating can be installed in owner-occupied and private rented properties off the gas grid. The project will include improved ventilation, loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, air source heat pumps, smart heating controls and photovoltaic panels, with each property receiving bespoke upgrades.
All properties will undergo a retrofit assessment to establish which measures will improve them to an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C rating.
To find out more about Esh Construction, visit www.eshgroup.co.uk
