WORK is due to start on a China Town development in Middlesbrough.

International project managers and construction consultants, Faithful and Gould, will start the three-phase scheme for Tees Valley Housing Group.

The firm has been appointed as client representative, quantity surveyor and planning supervisor for the scheme, with a total development value of between £2.5m and £3.5m.

The first phase, 20 residential apartments worth £1.2m, is already at the detailed planning stage.

Once this first phase is under way, phases two and three will see the construction of a community centre to serve about 420 people, as well as retail facilities.

Martin Round, regional director at Faithful and Gould's Newcastle office, said: "We have worked alongside Tees Valley Housing Group for five years providing construction consultancy support.

"This type of project is ideal for us as it plays to our vast regeneration experience.

"It will involve us in a variety of regeneration related disciplines, including providing specialist funding advice, procurement expertise, community consultation and traditional planning supervision.

"It is pleasing to be involved in a scheme for the Chinese community which has been keen to develop a China Town area within Middlesbrough for many years."

The community centre is likely to cost about £800k and funding will be through a combination of community grants.

Published: ??/??/2003