WORK has started on the latest phase of a landmark redevelopment scheme.

The £4m Boho Five building in Middlesbrough is designed to accommodate a wide range of start-ups as well as established businesses within the digital and creative sectors.

The building is the next phase of the DigitalCityBusiness (DCB) development, a key strand in the town’s economic regeneration plans and part of the wider Middlehaven area, one of the north-east’s largest regeneration schemes.

Boho Five is being jointly funded by the European Regional Development Fund Competitive Programme 2007-13 and the Homes and Communities Agency, is being delivered by Middlesbrough Council.

Delivered by Middlesbrough Council, a range of partners are also involved, with Parsons Brinckerhoff in a project management role and xsite architecture undertaking a feasibility study and construction design management.

xsite has been involved with the Boho Zone area from its inception in 2005

Tim Bailey, a partner at the firm, said: “We are very pleased to be continuing our relationship with the Boho Zone with this latest building.

“It will be a high quality, innovative building reflecting the aspirations of the digital sector and designed in a way to foster increased interaction and collaboration between its occupiers. Specifically the building is to provide small, flexible ‘incubation’ space for start up businesses which will then grow and expand to occupy space in other publicly or privately owned buildings within the area, continuing with the positive redevelopment in this area.”

Esh Build, part of Esh Group, has been appointed to carry out the £3.2m construction of Boho Five.

The six-storey building, which is being constructed from steel and concrete and has been carefully designed to minimise carbon footprint in both the build and operation phases, will have a BREEAM Very Good rating.

The project will draw on Esh Build’s extensive experience of similar projects due to the complex nature of the brownfield site on which it is being developed and its proximity to the local rail network.

Paul Redman, construction director, Esh Build, said:

“Boho Five is another important building in this exciting and visionary regeneration scheme for Middlehaven in Middlesbrough’s centre. Esh Build has been involved in constructing a number of other buildings and spaces as part of the plan – and we’re delighted we have been appointed to build Boho Five.”