opco wins £13.5m second phase of Portsmouth Rowner Regeneration Project

South Wales construction firm Opco has started work on the £13.5 million Phase two of the Rowner Renewal project  in Gosport, Hampshire providing new residential and retail buildings.

The scheme will involve the construction of 101 homes, including a residential tower and a 36,000 sq ft Tesco supermarket together with three smaller retail units.

The work is on behalf of The Rowner Renewal Partnership (RRP). Rowner’s regeneration is a multi-million pound phased project which is expected to be completed by 2017.

Phase one of the scheme, which includes the construction of 219 new homes, a mix of private, rental and shared ownership houses and flats, is expected to be finished by the end of this year.  New residents have already started to move into the awarding winning “Alver Village” homes built by Taylor Wimpey.

Nathan Holmes, opco’s Regional Director for the south east said: “We are delighted to have been appointed for Rowner’s Phase two. Our local experience for this project was gained by building the £3.5 million Charles Church water’s edge development in Portsmouth. opco’s south east team are very much looking forward to working with the Rowner Partnership and the local stakeholders for the successful completion of Phase two.

“Since being established in 2001 opco has been successful in completing numerous high profile residential projects including Cardiff’s largest residential development in Cardiff bay. We have worked with several repeat clients over the years including Persimmon, Taylor Wimpey and Charles Church.”

Rowner’s Phase two is due for completion by the summer of 2013. The architects are Chetwoods, structural engineers, Reuby & Stagg Ltd., mechanical and electrical engineers RYBKA, project managers, Anser Project Managers and quantity surveyors DBK Partners Ltd.

The Rowner Renewal Partnership has five members: First Wessex, Gosport Borough Council, Hampshire County Council, Homes and Communities Agency and Taylor Wimpey UK Ltd.

Dan Castle, Technical Director for Taylor Wimpey,  said: “We welcome the addition of Opco to our team which will be further strengthened by Opco’s experience.  Taylor Wimpey act as developer for the Partnership and will continue as builder on Phase one and the latter phases, but we were keen to appoint a specialist contractor for Phase two, given its mix of uses and forms of construction.”