Galliford Try has secured a £28m contract to deliver 126 social rent flats at the City Place development in Chester for Clarion Housing Group.

The job marks the contractor’s first standalone affordable housing scheme exiting the sector over six years ago as part of the terms of a deal with Vistry to buy its affording housing and Linden Homes business for £1.1bn.

Located beside the Shropshire Union Canal and close to the Grade II-listed Chester Shot Tower, the development will deliver 23 one-bed and 103 two-bed flats aimed at tackling local housing demand.

The project forms part of Muse’s wider City Place masterplan and will be built to high sustainability standards. All homes will be fossil-fuel free, achieve at least EPC B and include EV charging provision.

Angela Brockbank, Affordable Homes Sector Director for Galliford Try, added: “This fantastic new development marks the first scheme underway since our return to the affordable homes sector, as outlined in our Sustainable Growth Strategy.

“We look forward to adding to our extensive portfolio of high-quality residential projects from the private and build to rent sectors, and demonstrating our capability to grow our business within this growing market.”