FEC sticks with CR Construction for next phase of £4bn Victoria North

Far East Consortium has appointed the contractor to build 895 homes at Red Bank, part of the 390-acre Manchester regeneration project.

CR Construction has signed a contract to deliver four buildings ranging from nine to 34 storeys off Dantzic Street, the next phase of the £4bn Victoria North.

The scheme, known as Red Bank Riverside, was designed by Hawkins\Brown Architects and Schulze+Grassov in collaboration with Optimised Environments landscape architects.

CR Construction, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of state-owned corporation China Zhejiang Construction Group (H.K), is already on site next door delivering the 634-home Victoria Riverside development. This project is due to complete in early 2025.

Calum Kidd, managing director at CR, said: “Securing this project is another significant milestone for us as we further establish our business and presence in the UK market as we continue to deliver on our promise to be one of the best, providing added value to our clients, partners and stakeholders.”

Work is due to start on the £210m first phase of Red Bank Riverside site early next year, following the completion of the enabling works carried out by BAM.

FEC won approval for almost 5,000 homes at Red Bank last August, including full consent for 1,551 apartments.

It has not yet been announced who will deliver the remaining 655 apartments that do not fall within the scope of CR’s contract.

The 35-acre site – split into two Red Bank Plateau and Red Bank Viaduct – also benefits outline permission was also granted for 3,250 homes, a 210-place primary school, and 67,800 sq ft of commercial space.

Nick Whitehouse, delivery director at FEC, said: “The execution of this contract to deliver the next phase of Red Bank Riverside is another significant milestone for one of the country’s largest regeneration projects.

“We’re pleased to engage the market-leading skills of CR Construction on this exciting project.”