Willmott Dixon's transformation of the 1960s-era Mardyke estate in Rainham, Essex, continues after Old Ford Housing Association awarded it a £23 million contract for phase two.

Old Ford Housing Association is responsible for the £80m renewal of the estate, which has been renamed Orchard Village after the Tiptree Jam orchards which used to grace the area. It will see 516 homes replaced with 555 new homes, which will comprise 339 general needs, 64 shared ownership and 152 private sale properties. There will also be local shops and a new Primary Care Trust facility.


Old Ford Housing Association, part of leading affordable housing provider Circle Anglia, and Willmott Dixon are already creating 121 units on phase one of the regeneration and this next stage will see a further 178 homes built, which will be a mix of 1 and 2 bed flats and 3 bed maisonettes.

The entire renewal of the estate will take six years and will be completed by 2015. During that time, the team will demolish six tower blocks and ten low rise blocks and replace them with lower rise, more family-friendly accommodation.

One key area is carbon emissions reduction which will be achieved by a centralised energy centre with a Combined Heat and Power engine aided by backup gas boilers. A future phase will also see photo voltaic panels on the roof of a commercial block.

Willmott Dixon will also contribute £250,000 to the estate for schemes which will remain after the project is completed. This has been split by agreement into four equal £62,500 pots of money, one for each phase.

(CD/KMcA)