A NORTH Yorkshire construction company is linking arms with a housing association on a £6.3 million project to build homes in Sheffield.

Malton-based S Harrison Construction Ltd has signed an unusual partnership contract with Derwent Living to transform the former Neepsend Rolling Mills site into 96 apartments for market rent along with commercial and office space. Completion is expected by next March.

S Harrison Developments, the development arm of the S Harrison Group, will also work with the housing association on another part of the site to develop commercial and retail space plus apartments for sale.

Paul Casey, head of development for Derwent Living, said: "We are pursuing a more collaborative approach by moving away from traditional adversarial practices and into an environment where attempts are made to understand any difficulties and resolve them as a team, rather than argue about issues."

This contract, he said, would involve the wider project team "in a sprit of collaborative working."

Updated: 10:05 Monday, July 12, 2004