A CONSTRUCTION firm has been appointed main contractor on a fellow North-East company’s £14m wind farm development.

Hall Construction, in Rushyford, near Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, is leading Banks Group’s Hook Moor wind farm.

The five-turbine scheme, on land near the junction of the M1 and A1 outside Leeds, is expected to be operational by the end of the year.

Hall, which employs 200 staff, will appoint and manage sub-contractors, lay access tracks, build a compound and prepare the site for the turbines’ autumn arrival.

The contract is another significant coup for the firm, which previously carried out groundworks on Hitachi Rail Europe’s £82m Aycliffe train building plant.

Its order book also lists the design and construction of The Northern Echo Arena, in Darlington, which was the former base of Darlington FC and is now home to Darlington Mowden Park Rugby Club.

Bosses say its work for Banks, which has its head office in Meadowfield, near Durham City, comes after previous support for the firm’s renewable energy, property development and surface mining divisions.

Stephen Bromley, Hall’s business development manager, said: “We’re very pleased to continue our good working relationship with the Banks Group, and look forward to working on the Hook Moor scheme.”

He added up to 30 people will work on site during the construction of Hook Moor.

Phil Dyke, Banks Renewables’ development director, added: “We’re very pleased to extend relationship with a fellow County Durham-based firm.

“Hall has the experience, resources and skills required to live up to the standards we set for all our projects.”