Article featured in Tees Business - 11 February 2019

New offices already boosting local economy

Middlesbrough’s Grade A office development is already benefiting the local economy by more than £1m – before they have even been completed.

The Centre Square project, which will bring thousands of jobs to Middlesbrough’s city centre, is currently seeing the first two brand new office blocks being built. The scheme is being delivered by Ashall Projects.

Both buildings are on target and are expected to be complete by the end of the summer.

During construction, however, builders Bowmer and Kirkland have endeavoured to utilise local labour and the local supply chain.

Currently they have 27% of labour from within a five-mile radius and 57% from with a 20-mile radius.

The company have also reported that almost £1.15m has been spent directly within the local supply chain.

Cllr Charlie Rooney, Middlesbrough Council’s deputy mayor and executive member for city centre strategy, said: “We are absolutely delighted to see these figures from Bowmer and Kirkland.

“Whenever a major construction project like this takes place, we are often asked if we will be using local labour for the build.

“Due to the nature of the construction business that isn’t always possible, however it’s great to see that the majority of the labour is local.

“These new Grade A offices are one of the most important projects in Middlesbrough in memory and will bring thousands of jobs into our city centre.

“Those workers will then spend locally on leisure and retail which will in turn create more jobs.

“It is an economic circle to the top and when those Teessiders working on the offices walk through Middlesbrough’s city centre in five years’ time, they’ll be able to look around at a completely transformed city economy and say “we did this”.”

Mark Ashall, director of Ashall Projects said: “It is really important to ensure we are facilitating construction spend as locally as possible. These numbers showcase exactly that which is brilliant.

“We remain on track with the development programme and look forward to seeing the first two buildings come to fruition.”