Pontefract’s Harris CM to transform Guisborough foundry in £3.5 deal

Construction firm Harris CM has landed a contract to deliver the retail phase of a £24m mixed-use development in the North East of England.

The £3.5m contract will see the Pontefract-based company build three retail units and two workshops totalling 59,700 sq ft on the former ESCO foundry on Rectory Lane in Guisborough.

Built for Ryedale Estates, the project marks the first stage of the Cleveland Gate development and was designed by Guisborough-based consultancy Stringer and Jones.

The foundry manufactured excavator components for the construction sector before closing down in 2014, when 65 jobs were lost.

Ryedale Estates is working on the multi-million pound redevelopment of the 20-acre site in partnership with The Guisborough Estate and Avant Homes.

It is estimated that almost 450 jobs will be created through the building of the retail and workshop units, in addition to the 25,000 sq ft of offices, 20 over-60s bungalows and 115 family homes outlined in the wider plan.

Harris CM’s managing director, Danny Mulqueen, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this project, which reinforces our reputation as a competitive construction partner in the retail sector.

“As a Guisborough resident, I am proud to be contributing towards the town’s continued prosperity and to the much-needed regeneration of this site in particular.”

He continued: “We have an unrivalled track-record for delivering similar retail schemes on time and within budget. These include a recently completed retail development on Chapel Street, in Belper, Derbyshire for Henry Boot Developments and are we’re currently on-site at Regent Street in Leeds building a £3.6m retail scheme for Gregory Property Group.”

Harris CM will begin construction work in January.