Seddon Construction picks up £37m Salford housing scheme

Bolton-based Seddon Construction has taken over a £37m housing scheme in Salford following the collapse of the original contractor.

Salford Council has appointed the company to build 177 homes at Longshaw Drive, Little Hulton, of which 92 will be handed to Dérive RP, the council’s in-house social homes division for social and affordable housing, with the remainder earmarked for the private rental sector and open market sales.

Liverpool-based Crossfield Construction was originally handed the contract to build the homes, but it entered liquidation in April this year.

It blamed the pandemic, rising material prices and the wider economic conditions facing the construction industry for its failure.

Work on the scheme is expected to start next month, with a three-year build planned, including phased handovers throughout the construction period.

However, there is an optional extension of one year, due to the volatility of the market, and the impact of Brexit and the pandemic.

In November last year Crossfield Construction lost its £3.1m contract to build a leisure development in the heart of Crosby Coastal Park for Sefton Borough Council.

The council terminated the deal due to what it called “unacceptable delays”.