HG Construction wins $301m Manchester housing contracts

UK, Manchester - HG Construction has secured approximately US$301 million (£225 million) in residential construction contracts from developer Far East Consortium (FEC), marking the next stage of development at Manchester's Red Bank neighbourhood.

The appointment covers 895 homes across four buildings on two development plots, NT02 and NT03, located on Dantzic Street near Manchester Victoria station. Both sites form part of the wider Victoria North regeneration programme, which is bringing new housing, public spaces and infrastructure improvements to an area north of Manchester city centre.

Under the agreement, HG Construction will deliver a 34-storey residential tower comprising 316 apartments on NT02. The scheme represents FEC's first entry into the build-to-rent sector.

The second development plot, NT03, will accommodate 579 homes across three buildings known as Falcon, Kingfisher and Midrise.

Construction on NT02 is expected to commence immediately, with completion targeted for 2029. Work on NT03 is planned to begin in early 2027, subject to receiving Gateway 2 approval from the Building Safety Regulator.

The schemes have been designed by Hawkins\Brown, while Open and S+G are responsible for the landscape design.

The latest contracts follow several years of planning and infrastructure investment across Red Bank.

FEC received planning approval in August 2023 for a total of 1,551 homes across three plots, NT02, NT03 and NT04, along Dantzic Street.

The developments are part of the Victoria North regeneration programme, which combines residential construction with improvements to public infrastructure, green spaces and pedestrian connectivity.

Funding through Homes England's Housing Infrastructure Fund has supported enabling works across the neighbourhood. Manchester City Council and BAM completed infrastructure works during the summer to prepare the NT02, NT03 and NT04 plots for development.

FEC Operations Director Anthony Payne said the contractor's appointment would allow the developer to progress its next residential phase following substantial investment in infrastructure and public spaces.

He highlighted the continuing development of Red Bank, where new housing and green areas are being introduced as further phases move towards construction.

HG Construction plans to draw on its internal construction and manufacturing capabilities to deliver the residential buildings.

These capabilities include offsite production of bathroom and utility pods, alongside in-house expertise in piling, concrete frames, crane operations, mechanical and electrical installations, and drylining.

The company has not specified which construction packages will be delivered directly by its own teams under the two contracts.

HG Construction Chief Executive Adam Quinn said the company's integrated delivery model would support efficient mobilisation while allowing greater oversight of construction schedules, workmanship and safety.

He also identified the use of prefabricated bathroom and utility pods as part of the contractor's approach to managing project delivery.

The latest award increases HG Construction's residential workload. Headquartered in Hitchin, the contractor also operates offices in London and Leeds and maintains an offsite manufacturing facility in Hull.