Timber-frame specialist Century Homes scoops contract for 1300 homes

Century Homes has secured a contract worth £3.5m to build more than 300 affordable homes over the next two years.

By 2010, work is expected to have started on a further 1000 homes, though the details of that development have yet to be finalised.

The work will require Century to double its workforce to 80 at its factory in Blyth, near Newcastle. It is also aiming to increase its overall workforce from 420 to 600 in the next five years and increase turnover to more than £69m in the same time frame.

Century was selected by Northern Partnership Homes, an alliance of housing associations comprising Durham Aged Mineworkers’ Homes Association; Endeavour Housing Association; Enterprise 5 Housing Association; Milestone Housing Association; Newcastle & Whitley Housing Trust; Nomad Housing Group; Tees Valley Housing Group;Three Rivers Housing Association and Two Castles Housing Association.

Century will construct homes across Darlington, Easington, Durham, Thornley, Stanley, Gateshead and South Tyneside.

Gerry McCaughey, Century’s chief executive, said: “Winning this flagship social housing contract demonstrates Century’s ability to deliver homes to the highest quality available anywhere in the world.

“This dynamic alliance shows how a group of forward-thinking housing associations can unite to drive efficiencies in construction, without having to compromise on quality.”

The partnership chose Century after a competitive tender.

Its construction methods will enable core elements of the homes to be manufactured offsite – requiring half the time needed to build traditional masonry houses.

Ray Gibson, development director at Endeavour Housing Association, said: “Timber-frame construction not only enables us to build quickly, but also to improve housing quality and energy efficiency in a way that can’t be achieved through traditional construction methods.”

Ian Prescott, development director and deputy chief executive of Nomad Housing Group, confirmed that the 300 homes were “hopefully the start” of a long-term relationship with Century.

“By coming together as a consortium we were able to offer Century Homes a scale of business that in turn has allowed themto offer a very competitive price on a high-quality product.”