Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council in the UK has selected Esh Construction as its design and build contractor to redevelop the council's new headquarters, Dunedin House.

As part of the project, Dunedin House will go through an extensive renovation and restoration programme. It is located at the Clear Water Business Park on the Thornaby bank of the Tees.

The project will allow the council to merge ten of its current administration buildings. It says the buildings’ age and existing condition make them currently obsolete in offering a suitable working environment, impacting service delivery and monetary efficiency.

Esh commenced work on the project last month after a nine-month design, proposal, and consultation stage in collaboration with a local design team. Works are anticipated to be finished in mid-2024.

Esh preconstruction director Chris Hale said: “As a local contractor, we are committed to supporting the communities surrounding our projects by procuring local [workers].

“Our emphasis was to maximise spend in Tees Valley when procuring the project team, as such, we selected local consultants Stokesley-based P&HS Architects and Stockton-based SINE Consulting.

“Throughout the project we plan to reinvest £3m into Tees Valley.”

The project was awarded under the North East Procurement Organisation's construction framework.

It will include demolition and partition removal, as well as the building of new partitions and glass screens to provide a new layout.