Delivering Quality at Scale on a 250-Home Development

Project Details

Development: Alexandra Gardens Phase 1

Location: Crewe, Cheshire

Completion Date: March 2025 (Phase 1) – Phase 2 due to commence January 2026

Number of Homes: 250

Property Types:

Mixture of detached, semi-detached, mews and apartments; 2, 3 and 4 bed homes (social and private). Includes traditional build and timber frame.

What We Did

AMBC Limited was appointed as the brickwork contractor for Alexandra Gardens, a large-scale residential development of 250 homes in Crewe, delivered for Watkin Jones.

The development included:

  • A broad mix of housing types, from detached family homes to apartments
  • A balance of private and social housing
  • Both traditional build and timber frame construction
  • Brickwork detailing including projecting brick bands and plinth cills

Project Story

This was AMBC’s largest project to date, requiring resilience, strong organisation and close coordination with new teams on site.

Key challenges and achievements included:

  • Delivering brickwork across 250 homes to a tight programme
  • Building new relationships with trades and site teams to keep work moving efficiently
  • Overcoming weather challenges and still finishing on programme
  • Managing scale while maintaining quality and safety standards

Working with the Client

AMBC built strong working relationships with Watkin Jones’ site management and commercial teams, earning trust by consistently going the extra mile.

The project was delivered on programme and within AMBC’s targeted budget, a reflection of both the workforce’s resilience and the company’s organisational strength.

Results & Highlights

  • Successfully delivered our first major volume site, completing Phase 1 to programme.
  • Built up and strengthened our workforce, bringing on excellent bricklayers who remain with AMBC today.
  • Seeing the site grow rapidly and new families moving in was a proud milestone.

What the client said

The brickwork looks great and is backed up by a scoring of 6 with NHBC. It’s a pleasure to have AMBC on site.

Paul Russell, Projects Manager, Watkin Jones

I worked with AMBC Limited in my role as Construction Director at Watkin Jones on a large site in Cheshire. They delivered excellent quality as promised and were passionate about creating positive relationships – always willing to go the extra mile. They have high expectations, excellent communication and are very solution focused. I look forward to working with them once again at United Living in the near future.

Kevin Morris, Operations Director, United Living Ltd (formerly Construction Director, Watkin Jones)

Closing Statement

Alexandra Gardens was a significant step forward for AMBC, marking our first major volume housing site. We are proud of how our workforce grew through this project and of the quality delivered across such a large and varied development. With Phase 2 ahead and another project signed for 300 homes in St Helens, we look forward to continuing this successful collaboration with Watkin Jones.

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