Seddon prepares to start 177 Little Hulton homes 

The construction firm has been appointed to deliver the £39m residential project off Longshaw Drive, Salford City Council’s largest social housing scheme for 50 years. 

The city council formally appointed Seddon Construction to deliver the 177-home Little Hulton project after its previous preferred contractor Crossfield went into administration earlier this year. 

The scheme will take around 155 weeks to deliver and will provide 92 units for the council’s social housing division Dérive. The other 85 units will be available for open market rent and sales. 

“We have approximately 6,000 households on our [housing] waiting lists who are desperate for an affordable home to live in,” said Cllr Tracy Kelly, the city council’s lead member for housing, property and regeneration. 

“To try and deal with the national housing crisis, which is affecting us locally, we are now progressing the largest scheme of council houses to be built in the city for 50 years. On top of this, the homes are being built to a highly energy efficient standard, which will be greatly welcomed as tenants move in, due the dramatic increase in energy bills for people who are already living in poverty.” 

Salford launched a tender for the scheme in 2021 that saw Crossfield Construction score the highest of all bidders with 88.84%, according to council documents.  

However, the company is now in the process of being liquidated having collapsed with debts totalling around £6m.  

Seddon achieved the second highest score from the procurement exercise – 81.4% – and was therefore selected to take over the project.  

• Read more about Seddon’s strategy for success and survival in this interview with managing director Peter Jackson. 

Seddon regional director, Duncan Williams, said landing the contract was a “testament” to the company’s “long-standing relationship with the city of Salford”.

Williams continued: “In Salford, we have already achieved a great deal to provide safe, sustainable, and quality housing to residents and we are projected to continue on this positive trajectory.

“The project is of special significance to Seddon as it was Little Hulton where Seddon saw the inaugural stages of the family business, 125 years ago. We look forward to delivering yet another successful and impactful project alongside Salford City Council.”

Alex Atkinson, director at Identity Consult, which is providing project management and employer’s agent services, said: “We have been working with Salford City Council since 2019 and have 217 homes in varying stages of development across Salford. 

“We are delighted to be able to continue to support Salford City Council in delivering these highly sustainable, affordable homes and look forward to further developing our relationship with the Council and other partners from our newest office, located just a few miles from this site.”