Plans for 22 homes in Middlesbrough refused after objections

Proposals, submitted back in 2023, advocated the construction of affordable homes on a plot of land off of Strait Lane – next to Montpellier Manor care home.

Most of the dwellings were due to be semi-detached, and included some bungalows. 

Two and a half years after initial submission, Middlesbrough Council officers have formally thrown out the proposal, which comes a year after it was reported that this affordable housing scheme had been ditched.

The plans drew many objections, but back in 2024, officers recommended approval nonetheless, subject to conditions and a section 106 agreement.

Presently, despite planning approval not yet being granted, initial works are underway on site as part of a different project to build 15 bungalows, with plans submitted for this alternative vision a year ago, led by Wilson Homes.

Currently, council officers are “minded to approve” these alternative plans, subject to a section 106 agreement – which is a legal agreement between the planning authority and the developer – said to be in the process of being signed. 

In July 2024, councillors on Middlesbrough’s planning committee gave the go ahead to housing association North Star Housing Group, for the 22 house plan, subject to a section 106 agreement.

This meant that the developer was required to provide funding towards highway works, along with other contributions. Formal refusal has now come about as a result of the absence of a signed section 106 agreement, which would have included a financial contribution to the beck improvement works and the requirement to seek out people with a local connection to occupy the affordable housing.

In 2025, it was reported that Sarah Fawcett, head of development at North Star, said it still had a “viable scheme”, but the landowner had chosen to sell to someone else. She said: “We wanted to proceed with our proposals but now are unable to, unless at some stage they reconsider.”

In the latest twist in the tale, the recently published delegated report says: “The application has now been on hold for one year. In that time the applicant has not contacted the planning authority at any stage to finalise the s106 agreement or withdraw the application”, adding: “Failure to agree the s106 agreement results in the development not providing the necessary mitigation to offset the impacts of the development, and a lack of agreement regarding the appropriate form of affordable housing.”