September, 2020 - Hobson & Porter

The foundations have been laid for 13 new bungalows on the former Eleanor Scott site, in Southcoates Lane, east Hull.

The development work has seen the former almshouse cottages – which were built in the early 1900s, no longer fit-for-purpose and beyond economical repair – demolished to make way for new PFH homes.

Four of the former cottages were built in 1907 and formed part of a legacy of another charity created some two hundred years earlier by Eleanor Scott who, in her will, left a property and 37 acres of farm land in the old parish of Southcoates to be leased for a reduced rent under what was then known as “poor relief”. Her will also established a charity school in the area in 1865 and a fund for the sick and poor.

Hull-based contractor Hobson and Porter is developing the new-builds for PFH, which will see the previous cottages replaced with modern, two bedroomed bungalows and ample parking space.

Martin Sherman, Property Services Director at PFH, said: “This development has been made possible with a Homes England affordable housing grant, which was secured to subsidise the building costs and we expect work to be complete in March 2021.

“This site has been particularly challenging as the ground conditions were very poor, we have therefore had to use very long piles 20 metres underground before laying the foundations for the new properties.

“We are pleased to be working with Hobson and Porter, a local firm providing jobs for people within our region. These bungalows will provide modern, affordable homes for the residents they are allocated to once complete next year.”

Wayne Cropp, Contracts Manager at Hobson and Porter, said: “Affordable housing schemes are very rewarding projects for us and we are particularly happy to be working once again with PFH on the
Eleanor Scott development in our home city of Hull, providing much-needed high-quality bungalows which will be enjoyed by new residents in the years to come.

“We continue to work on the Southcoates Lane site in accordance with the Covid-19 sector-specific government guidance for the construction industry. Thankfully, our programme of works hasn’t been too heavily disrupted in recent weeks as much of our work to-date has involved demolition and external works, both of which we are able to complete whilst upholding social distancing. We look forward to seeing the scheme take further shape in the coming weeks and months.”

While foreign travel continues to face disruption and holiday makers face uncertainty, our project teams have spent the summer holidays supporting facilities to help people enjoy staycation holidays in the region as a fun-filled alternative.

We are currently undertaking multiple projects at popular recreation and leisure facilities situated across the Yorkshire region.

We are performing works at Skidby Mill, the home of the Museum of East Riding Rural Life, performing repairs to the Grade II listed building’s roof, windows and tower.

We are also currently building the UK’s first Tree Health Centre, the Yorkshire Arboretum, located near Castle Howard in North Yorkshire.

When complete, the Yorkshire Arboretum will be the UK’s first purpose-built facility created to expand public awareness about the threats posed to trees by pests and diseases, and ways to keep them as healthy. The new visitor centre has now been constructed and is currently being fitted out.

A refurbishment of Hull’s Beverley Road Baths and a redevelopment and extension of East Riding Leisure Hornsea are also ongoing, which will provide refurbished swimming baths, squash courts and fitness studios. Beverley Road Baths is scheduled for completion next Spring while East Riding Leisure Hornsea is set for handover next week.

Also at Hornsea, a new boat compound has been delivered, with visitors benefitting from the creation of a new pay and display car park and picnic area, with improved access to the boathouse and the rest of the promenade.

Following the reopening of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and its heritage train services, we recently reached a milestone in the construction of a new stabling and maintenance facility that will house trains close to Pickering Station.

We are also due to handover a refurbished Driffield Methodist Church in the coming weeks, with building works complete and new fencing being erected.

Earlier this year, we completed a roofing upgrade at Beningbrough Hall, a historic country house with evolving gardens and art exhibitions. The project team performed a careful removal and replacement of the original Westmorland slate roof on a number of Grade II listed outbuildings at the National Trust’s estate based near York.

Hobson & Porter’s director Jon Craven says the firm’s works are taking place at a time when demand for recreation and leisure facilities in the region is increasing and the importance of tourism for the region’s economy is growing:

“With foreign travel currently facing uncertain restrictions due to the impact of COVID-19, many people are abandoning plans to holiday overseas and are choosing a staycation in the UK instead.

“The recreation and leisure projects we are currently involved in show the variety of excellent facilities we have here in Yorkshire and we’re really proud to be delivering work at sites that will provide great fun and interesting activities for tourists and residents in the region and hopefully kickstart our economy after a challenging period.

“It’s important for our region to see a continued investment in leisure and recreation facilities at this difficult time, as we look to stimulate the UK economy through attracting tourism. It’s great for the construction sector to play our part in this.”

Jon added: “With the majority of the UK spending the summer holidays at home this year, Hobson & Porter is proud to be flying the flag for the region and showing that you can holiday in our home county and discover countless activities, facilities and great things to do here.”