A £4 million development of 25 new flats for Gloucester City Homes has reached a key milestone.

The steel frame, concrete floors and stairs are all complete at the development at 101 Northgate Street, currently being constructed by Gloucester-based Aqua Construction.

The 16 two-bed and nine one-bed flats are being built on a brownfield site on Northgate Street and Spread Eagle Way and form part of the £104 million landmark King's Quarter development.

Jason Wasley, managing director of Aqua Construction, said: "It's been fantastic to work on such a key building central to the regeneration of the city. All the team are really proud to be involved and it highlights how far we have come as a company to be involved in such a prestigious project.

"It's not been easy, as it's a very technical build from the foundation design working around archaeological remains on site, right through to designing the steel frame."

The five-storey build is Aqua's 20th project in partnership with Gloucester City Homes. Over the years, the company has delivered more than 175 homes for the housing association.

With 25 to 30 staff working on site every day, the company is also proud that it has used almost entirely local labour on the project.

Jason Wasley continued: "We're very proud of the fact that we employ locally. Literally 90% of the whole development is done by a local labour force and an all-local supply chain.

"We're quite passionate about using local people on our projects. After all, it's money that is spent in the city that will stay in the city and the surrounding area. It all filters through and benefits everyone that way."

Richard Graham, MP for Gloucester, visited the site to see the progress being made.

Richard Graham said: "Gloucester is a city that's going places, with a housing association to provide people in the city with a great place to live close to all the facilities that people want when they're living in a city."

He praised Aqua Construction and the work it has done.

"Aqua Construction is a business founded by a guy living in Gloucester with £500 in the bank and here he is today working on his 20th project for Gloucester City Homes.

"He has created 175 new places for people to live. That is a great growth story in its own right. It's a successful Gloucester business and all the contractors and subcontractors are also local, so it's a real local triumph."

Richard Graham continued: "Over the years, planning and construction hasn't always been a success. We can look around Gloucester and see places from the 60s that none of us would want to build now.

"They're coming down gradually, and in their place are good, quality buildings that all of you, in 50 years' time with your children and grandchildren, will be proud to say 'I played a part in this'.

"For all you've done in reshaping Gloucester that's going to have an impact on people's lives, I'm incredibly grateful and we should all be proud."

Guy Stenson, Gloucester City Homes chief executive, said: "Our new Northgate development will create quality new social rent homes, jobs for local people and investment in the city.

"Every one of us, regardless of our circumstances and situation deserves a place we can be proud to call home, a home we can afford to heat, where we feel safe and where we can put down roots and live our best lives.

"That's why we are passionate at GCH about playing our role to tackle the housing crisis and bring quality, affordable new homes to Gloucester."

Aqua Construction celebrated 25 years in business in 2022, employes over 40 staff from its base in Elmore, Gloucester and has a turnover of approximately £7 million.

For more information about Aqua Construction visit www.aquaconstruction.co.uk, call 01452 722212 or email info@aquaconstruction.co.uk.