Social housing projects on hold as firm goes into administration

Southdale Construction was working on housing developments for Thirteen housing group, in Middlesbrough, Stockton Thornaby and Hartlepool, when the firm folded at the end of April.

The collapse of the firm has left 146 out of 210 homes unfinished across five sites.

Contracts for Southdale’s work on two Thirteen Group projects in Middlesbrough had a combined value of £4.4m, and the work had originally been due for completion by the end of March.

Southdale also had a £2.5m contract for a Thirteen project in Hartlepool, and an £11m contract for The Group’s Parkfield estate in Stockton, which was due for completion at the end of this year.

Thirteen Group was unable to confirm how much had already been paid to Southdale when the building work was halted.

A spokesperson for the social housing firm said: ‘We are working hard to ensure that works recommences on the affected sites as soon as possible’, but confirmed that a date has not yet been set for this.

No prospective tenants had signed tenancy agreements, and those hoping to be allocated the new homes have been contacted individually by Thirteen Group representatives.