Five flats planned for former Market Tavern in North Ormesby

In the coming weeks or months, Middlesbrough Council’s planning department must make a decision regarding the vacant space at North Ormesby’s Market Tavern.

As has been reported, the Market Tavern previously featured as part of a wider site which saw proposals submitted, requesting permission for a transformation that would have seen 11 apartments constructed.

Registered back in January, plans were later withdrawn in May. This time around, the James Street property neighbouring the Market Tavern does not feature as part of the plans.

Now, new plans are on the cards for the former boozer, with a desire for the first and second floor to be turned into five self-contained apartments.

Alterations to external access would be needed as part of the proposals. There would be no change to the ground floor use, which was a pub and has one self-contained flat.

Documents outline that, previously, the first and second floors were in “ancillary residential use” – in other words, landlord accommodation. The site is currently described as vacant.

If approved, there would be five one bedroom flats, described as market housing. While the ground floor does not feature as part of the application, the internal staircases that “historically” connected the pub to the upper floors would be removed.

As a result, once the works are complete, the apartments on the upper floors will be entirely self-contained. 

When it comes to accessing the apartments, papers add: “The rear of the site is accessed via Kings Mews East, where an existing yard provides access to the upper floors. This arrangement reflects the historic pattern of development in the area, with rear servicing and access commonly used for upper-floor accommodation.”

It is argued that bringing the upper floors back into residential use will support the “continued vitality” of the local centre in North Ormesby, while also preserving the “established character” of the area.

Advocating the plans, the supporting statement said: “The scheme avoids external expansion” and “preserves the character of the building.”

Market Tavern previously hit the headlines back in 2020 when it was mistakenly listed by Middlesbrough Council as an eyesore site that the council was looking to buy.