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Search the Public Notice Portal A major theatre, a new hotel, and the removal of “redundant” retail units are flagship projects being unveiled as the “biggest changes to Middlesbrough in a generation”.
Middlesbrough Council has revealed its “bold new vision” for the remodelling of the town centre with 15 new projects hoping to attract both investment and visitors.
Major projects include the demolition of the crumbling Civic Centre and in its place building the “most technologically advanced theatre in the country” and a new hotel at the derelict Gurney House, near the A66, to meet “sky high” demand.
There are also major plans to remove redundant retail floorspace and focus premium retailers around the Hill Street Shopping Centre.
This would include the demolition and repurposing of current units - with the council saying it only wants to retain a third of the retail space currently in the town centre.
The ten-year-plan also includes the building of thousands of new homes in Middlehaven and Gresham and, inspired by other projects across Europe, removing and replacing empty buildings with attractive urban spaces.
The projects, which are included in an investment prospectus due to be considered by Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke and his Executive next week, aim to address how the way people work, shop and spend their leisure time is “changing more rapidly than ever before”.
The council said that significant grant funding at a regional and national level for the projects, which are at different stages of development, will also be vital.
Theatre inspired by Canary Wharf and hotel bid
The council said demolition on the Civic Centre is set to get underway in the new year to make way for the new roughly 2,000 seat theatre just off Centre Square.
Richard Horniman, corporate director for regeneration and housing, said the council would be “working with one of the top theatre operators in the country to develop what will be the most technologically advanced theatre in the country”.
He said the venue will be inspired on the Troubadour Theatre at Canary Wharf in London, where The Hunger Games on Stage is currently being held.
“There are West End shows that other theatre venues in the North East are struggling to take and some that they can't take and the intention is that we establish that as the number one theatre in the North East that will be able to take all of those,” he said.
Meanwhile, a new hotel would be the “solution” for the “eyesore” Gurney House, which is already in a “cluster” of hotels beside the Premier Inn and Leonardo Hotel.
Retail reshuffling
One of the most major projects includes removing redundant retail floorspace and focusing premium retail activity around the Hill Street Centre.
Mr Horniman said the council wants to “take out significant chunks of retail floorspace”.
“We have got far too much that is sitting empty,” he admitted.
“What we are looking to do is clear some of it out.
“And where there is retail activity that will sustain itself in Middlesbrough, we’d like to see that clustered around the Hill Street Centre.”
Mr Horniman said that this would, in some cases, include demolition - but reiterated that, just because the council owns a site, it does not mean it is something it is looking to tear down.
He said: “We won’t just be taking down things for the sake of it.
“It is the stuff that is an eyesore, it is the stuff that is blocking linkages from different parts of the town centre.”
Mr Horniman said the council only wants to retain a third of its town centre retail space - and moves have already been made to move retailers out of spaces that could be repurposed.
Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke said: “One of the issues we seem to have is we have a shop, empty shop, shop, empty shop.
“Nobody is getting the benefit of any footfall concentrated because of how sporadic it is.”
The council also wants to remove end-of-life office floorspace that “acts as a beacon of neglect” and provide out of town style opportunities within the town centre.
Three sites have already been lined up as places this could happen in a bid to make retailers who have left the town centre move back in.
“We have a number of sites in the town centre where, if we do some of the other things on the project list, we have got the opportunity to develop an out of town retail offer right in the heart of the town centre,” Mr Horniman said.
“It would provide for different types of stores that you would get in the town centre.”
Mayor Cooke said there are already conversations ongoing with “big retailers” that people want back in the town and who are “willing” to return, but not in an old unit.
Mr Horniman said it is “not looking to compete with Teesside Park”.
Taxi hub, surgery centre, and new homes
Other key projects include making the town centre a creative canvas to be “playable” for young people and the creation of major urban spaces.
The prospectus also reflects changing trends in public transport and taxi use with plans for new bus super stops to improve passenger experience.
Comfortable and convenient stops, including near the railway station, would link up bus and train services and a modern new taxi hub could also be built
There are also plans for an Academic Centre of Excellence for Surgery to be established at the James Cook University Hospital, a project which is already at the fundraising stage.
Plans for the Academic Centre of Excellence for Surgery at James Cook University Hospital
(Image: MIDDLESBROUGH COUNCIL)
The centre of excellence would be a UK hub providing cutting-edge research and innovation, creating job opportunities and helping to retain talent in the region.
Housing projects include a 1,000 unit site at Newham Hall, near Coulby Newham, where infrastructure is already going in, and more than 2,000 homes in Middlehaven.
Plans for new homes in Middlehaven
(Image: MIDDLESBROUGH COUNCIL)
The development of a new community in Gresham is also mentioned, a £200 million project aiming to unlock up to 1,500 new homes and support 4,000 jobs.
While progress was paused on this project before Christmas due to what partners described as "national economic headwinds," all parties remain committed.
The council also wants to support the commercial purchase of existing residential properties by others.
The authority said it has a “rough idea” of cost but said some of the project are not as fully formed as others.
Plans for new homes in Middlehaven
(Image: MIDDLESBROUGH COUNCIL)
Mayor Cooke said: “Some of the more developed projects, such as the theatre, the funding model for them is already in place.”
Mr Horniman added: “We know it is going to be difficult to raise funds for some of these. So we have got to make a very coherent argument for doing it.”
The proposals come alongside a new ‘Place Leaders Partnership’ aiming to deliver long-lasting change has brought together the council, Teesside University, Middlesbrough College, Tees Valley Combined Authority and Middlesbrough Football Club.
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Significant employers including AV Dawson and Behaviour UK also joined Cleveland Police, NHS organisations and the North East Chamber of Commerce on the partnership.
It aims to make Middlesbrough “the most creative place for young people to live, learn and realise their future”.
A consultation involving 1,300 young people, their parents and carers informed the plans which aim to respond to challenges felt nationwide and drive key themes.
The Council’s Executive meets on September 2 at 5pm.