Dunelm Property Services, part of Esh Group, has recently completed one of the largest community regeneration projects to be carried out in the region.

The £9 million scheme at St Paul’s Road in Middlesbrough was a PPC 2000 design and build contract carried out in partnership with Optimus Homes for Erimus Housing.

Lying just west of Middlebrough town centre on the Newport estate, where previously three unpopular blocks of maisonettes had stood, the scheme has created nearly 100 new homes which are available for rent or offer affordable home ownership options.  In addition a large car park has been built.

A three-storey and a four-storey block together provide 68 apartments; each apartment has two bedrooms and an en-suite bathroom to the master bedroom.  A further 23 houses and three bungalows provide a mix of two and three bedroom homes.

A range of tenure options is available across the site from rent to shared ownership schemes.  These schemes offer buyers the opportunity to purchase 50% or 65% of the property and rent the remainder from Erimus Housing until they can afford to buy a greater share.

At the opening event, Edna Donnelly, Vice Chair of the Erimus Housing Board, was delighted:

"These properties have transformed the area and now offer not only opportunities for rent, but also the chance to get a foot on to the property ladder for people who may have thought they could not afford it.  This development has created more vital affordable housing in a popular area that is a gateway to the town.”

Chris Smith, Managing Director of Erimus Housing, said:

"A flexible approach has been adopted and will include shared equity, shared ownership, intermediate market rent and outright sale to reflect the changing economic climate.

"The apartment blocks will be landmark buildings on one of the main approach roads into the town centre and will transform the Newport estate in which we have also invested heavily in improvements to our housing stock."

Describing the extensive preparation which preceded the construction phase, Stephen Francis, Managing Director of Dunelm Property Services continued:

“The St Paul’s Road contract is our largest single project undertaken to date and has been constructed using modern methods of construction incorporating a range of renewable energy technologies.

“We carried out extensive consultation with existing residents on the estate and we particularly involved pupils from the local primary school.  We were very keen to make sure that we helped satisfy everyone’s needs and expectations before, during and after the build.  At Dunelm Property Services we pride ourselves on continuously engaging with our customers.”

Dunelm Property Services is one of the most successful companies operating in the community regeneration sector; refurbishing, maintaining and constructing homes.

New contracts in 2009 have seen the company extend both geographically and its client base.

In Rotherham a £1.7m scheme involving the demolition of existing premises and construction of a two storey building to provide twelve self contained bedsits and communal areas for vulnerable people was carried out for Turning Point Futures.

In Stockton supported homes for young homeless people and in Middlesbrough supported homes for young families were created for Endeavour Housing Association.  The Stockton scheme included ten self-contained apartments, gardens, car parking, resources room with IT facilities and a staff base.  That in Middlesbrough involved demolition of a town house and construction of a three-storey building featuring nine self-contained bedsits with kitchen.

Stephen Francis continued:

“Despite the challenging economic conditions in 2009 we have had a most successful year; we have diversified both geographically and in terms of our client sector and continued to grow the business.  We now employ in the order of 250 people in the North East and in conjunction with our clients, such as Erimus, look to continue our successful contribution to building sustainable communities.”

Dunelm Property Services continues to work on a number of refurbishment schemes in the region including South Tyneside Homes, Dale & Valley Homes, Cestria Community Housing and Tristar Homes.

More information is available at www.dunelmpropertyservices.co.uk