Middlesbrough’s 11 eyesore sites five years on

In June 2020, under a previous administration, Middlesbrough Council drew up a list of 11 locations that council chiefs described as “eyesores”, which were under consideration for purchase and rejuvenation. In 2021, it was confirmed that up to £1m had been allocated to buy derelict sites and stop them blighting the town. 

Five years on from the original announcement, the council was asked for an update on each of the 11 sites. Their responses are below, along with some additional information from over the past few years.

• Newcastle House, Ingram Road. The former pub is in third party ownership, with planning permission granted for retail/shop conversion and the works to repurpose the property for convenience shop use are completed.
• Liberty’s, Longlands Road. The former nightclub building is in third party ownership, with works to repurpose the property for commercial use completed. The site is now re-occupied and operational. A “new lease of life” for the old Middlesbrough nightclub was reported on in 2021.
• Former Roseberry Petrol Station, Acklam Road. The former petrol station is in third party ownership, with works to refurbish for fuel filling station use completed. The site is re-occupied and operational.
• The Crown & Mitre, North Ormesby. The former pub is in third party ownership, with a planning application submitted for residential conversion, with works to repurpose the property ongoing. The site was previously reported on in 2021.
• Former Wee Willie Pub, Evesham Road, Park End. The vacant former pub is in third party ownership, with previous attempts to deliver affordable housing schemes at the site having proven unsuccessful. The site remains undeveloped but action to re-purpose the site is expected in the short term.
• Former Methodist Church, Kings Road, North Ormesby. When asked, the council confirmed that this site refers to the Methodist Church Halls on Derwent Street. The council said that the vacant former church/hall is in third party ownership, adding that there is evidence of work being undertaken on site following the grant of planning permission for residential conversion. The property has been listed for sale on the open market. 

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has repeatedly reported on this site, with building work stopped temporarily in January. In June, residents voiced their anger at the lack of consultation about continuing works on the building, as the council argued that the former church halls were not abandoned. It’s understood that work is underway to restore the building for use as a mosque..

• Former Ship Inn, Stockton Street, Middlehaven. This is another derelict former pub in third party ownership. The council explained  that it has deteriorated significantly since it was originally subject to a major fire in 2012 and remains undeveloped.
• 56 Cargo Fleet Lane/ Bournemouth Avenue. The vacant former petrol station is in third party ownership, with no evidence of any work being undertaken to either maintain or repurpose the site, it remains undeveloped but has been secured according to the council. Potential development was reported in 2021.
• Former Quoit Club, Addington Drive. This vacant former social club site is in third party ownership. However, there is no evidence of any work being undertaken to either maintain or repurpose the site and as such it remains undeveloped. It did feature in a 2021 report on the eyesore sites.
• Marton Country Club, Marton. The vacant hotel site is in third party ownership. While there is no evidence of any work to either maintain or repurpose the site which remains undeveloped, Lidl are hoping to open up a store there. It was rumoured that they had bought the site in 2022 and earlier this month, it was confirmed that locals were being asked for their thoughts on proposals for a new store.
• Douglas House, Marton Road. The vacant development site is in third party ownership and there is no evidence of any work to either maintain or repurpose the site which remains undeveloped. It was reported in 2023 that proposals could see a five storey block of student flats. More recently, plans were submitted to the council for a new petrol station and drive-thru on the site.

The council was asked what their ambition is for sites that aren’t yet operational in a new lease of life and whether compulsory purchase orders are still being considered. A Middlesbrough Council spokesman said: “Neglected, abandoned and derelict buildings act as a magnet for crime and antisocial behaviour, and can blight entire neighbourhoods.

“We are committed to working constructively with owners and landlords to ensure such properties are safe and secure, and where possible to redevelop them and bring them back into use. Enforcement is always a last resort when all other avenues have been explored, but where necessary we will take action on behalf of the community.”