Hillside Gardens includes a mix of two, three and four-bedroom houses, alongside two and three-bedroom bungalows, helping to meet growing demand for affordable homes in the area.
Delivered by housing provider Thirteen in partnership with Middlesbrough Council and developer Esh Construction, and with funding support from Homes England and the Tees Valley Combined Authority, Hillside Gardens has transformed a prominent area of Grove Hill with homes designed to meet a diverse range of needs.
The development has been completed two years ahead of schedule, bringing forward the delivery of high-quality and energy-efficient homes for hundreds of local people.
One resident who has recently moved to Hillside Gardens is Michelle, who is living in her new affordable rented home with her husband and two of their children.
Michelle said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have moved into our new home. It’s a fresh start for our family and we’re excited to begin making memories here.
“One of the best things is being so close to our relatives, with lots of our family already living in the area. Having that support network nearby means a lot to us all, and we’re looking forward to becoming part of the Hillside Gardens community.”
Children from nearby Beech Grove Primary School chose the name ‘Hillside Gardens’, reflecting a welcoming atmosphere for the new neighbourhood, as well as paying homage to Grove Hill’s historical roots.
Sharon Thomas, Chief Investment and Property Officer at Thirteen said: "Seeing residents settle into their new homes and begin building their futures here at Hillside Gardens is what makes projects like this so rewarding.
“Not only is this the largest development Thirteen has ever delivered, it represents years of investment and collaboration to create high-quality homes and places where people can thrive.
“With £350m of Strategic Affordable Homes Programme funding recently secured from Homes England, we're now looking ahead to building on this success and delivering thousands more affordable homes our communities need.”
New homes have been allocated through a Local Lettings Policy, with preference given to people who have a local connection to Middlesbrough.
Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke said: “Hillside Gardens is really impressive and a sign of progress for this area. These are high-quality homes of different sizes – exactly what we need right across town.
“This kind of new housing can help make Middlesbrough thrive.”
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “Seeing Hillside Gardens now complete is a fantastic milestone for Grove Hill and for Middlesbrough.
“As we grow our economy, attract investment and create good jobs, it’s just as important that we continue investing in our communities and deliver the high-quality, affordable homes local people need.
“Hillside Gardens is a great example of that, breathing new life into this part of the town and creating a neighbourhood where families can put down roots and be proud to call home.”
Shahi Islam, Director of Affordable Housing Grants at Homes England, said: “As the government’s housing and regeneration agency, increasing the supply of quality affordable homes remains one of our key objectives and we are committed to supporting stakeholders of all sizes to achieve their ambitions.
“It’s great to see the final residents move into the new Grove Hill development in Middlesbrough. The scale of this site shows the positive impact we are making with Thirteen Housing in the area and is a prime example of how we work collaboratively with partners to achieve our mission of building much needed new communities that people can be proud to call home.”
Esh Construction has delivered a number of social value initiatives alongside the project, including providing 474 weeks of apprenticeships and 37 weeks of T Level placements, helping young people gain valuable skills and experience as they begin their careers in a construction-based environment.
Mark Binns, Operations Director at Esh Construction said: “The completion of Hillside Gardens marks a major milestone for our affordable housing division. Through a strong and collaborative approach, we’ve handed over the Hillside Gardens development two years ahead of schedule, which is a real testament to the hard work, dedication, and expertise the team brought to the scheme.
“Our partnership with Thirteen was key to the success of this development and providing the Middlesbrough area with more than 540 high quality homes is something we’re extremely proud of.”