Chinese firm Beijing Construction Engineering Group (BCEG) has won an £85 million contract to build phase one of a new residential neighbourhood in Manchester.

The contractor was selected by Scarborough International Properties to develop the first £150m stage of the 24.5-acre Middlewood Locks scheme at the western gateway to Manchester's Central Business District.

Features of the first phases includes 571 new homes and associated commercial space, including convenience shops, restaurants, extensive new public realm including canal side footpaths and cycle ways to the City centre. Completion is scheduled for October 2018, with the first residents moving to the apartments in March that year.


Kevin McCabe, Chairman of Scarborough, said: "We are delighted to have signed BCEG for the first phase of our Middlewood Locks development. This marks the culmination of many years of hard work and collaboration between all involved, both in the UK and China."

Xing Yan, Managing Director of BCEG added: "We look forward to continuing our work with Scarborough on the development of this significant and strategic regeneration project."

Overall, the Middlewood Locks development will include 2,215 new homes and 900,000 sq ft of commercial development space including offices, hotel, shops, restaurants, a convenience store and gym.

In addition, the scheme will be developed around three large basins of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal which connects to the River Irwell, featuring public green spaces.

(LM/CD)