Middlehaven

Background

In the 19th Middleheaven was the catalyst for the growth of Middlesbrough as an international industrial centre, pivotal to the development of the surrounding Teesside community and the local economy.

In recent years, as the economy has changed, many of the key local industries have become redundant and in 1980 the dock closed its gates to international trade for the last time.

For the last two decades the abandoned dock has lain dormant. However, the first shoots of regeneration started in the mid nineties when Middlesborough Football Club built its current ground, the Riverside Stadium, next to the docklands.

Now this 80-acre site, adjacent to Middlesbrough town centre, is a mixed-use regeneration project where the Homes and Communities Agency is working in partnership with Middlesbrough Council, One North East and Tees Valley Regeneration.

The regeneration plan is one of the boldest currently underway in England. Award-winning architect Will Alsop has developed his ‘masterplan’ for the site which puts iconic buildings at the heart of a desirable and sustainable community for the new century.

Project

Following the completion of an £18 million reclamation and restoration contract for the dock basin and surrounding land, a regeneration site covering over 15 ha has been prepared for commercial and residential development.

The initial phase of the project is expected to comprise homes, significant office space and leisure facilities, including a hotel, destination retail, bars and restaurants.

The HCA (previously English Partnerships), the national regeneration agency, owns the land and has invested £40 million in the overall project.

The first phase of the redevelopment is now well underway with Terrace Hill having completed the first state-of-the-art office building over-looking the dock.

BioRegional Quintain, one of the UK’s biggest developers, will bring £200 million of investment to Middlesbrough to bring about the Alsop masterplan. BioRegional Quintain is backed by Quintain Estates and Development PLC, a company with strong redevelopment credentials.

The site is planned to be at the cutting edge of contemporary architecture and will combine world-class design with the highest standards in sustainable development. It will include a collection of iconic structures designed by the most visionary architects working today.

The project started on site in Spring 2008 with the construction of the first apartment block. Completion is expected in 2012.

Impact

The project is estimated to create 750 new homes, 1,000 new jobs and it will be the biggest carbon neutral development in the UK.

'Industry in the Tees Valley is already making the shift into the low carbon economy and it is pleasing to see the same commitment from the region’s residential sector, especially at such a high-profile development.'

Terrace Hill's high specification office development, Manhattan Gate, is well underway. Hudson Quay 1 is now home to the Crown Prosecution Service while work recently started on Hudson Quay 2, which has been fully pre-let to Middlesbrough Primary Care Trust. A further three office blocks will be built, all sitting alongside Middlesbrough Football Club's Riverside Stadium.

A new £70 million sixth form college for Middlesbrough has been completed. The project caters for a total of 20,000 students and more than 600 staff. The 32,000 sq m College plays a key role in the ambitious plans for Middlehaven.

It will bring 2,600 full time and a further 17,000 part time students into the heart of Middlehaven every day, making the area one of the most vibrant and attractive waterside areas in the North.

Tees Valley Regeneration Chief Executive Joe Docherty states: "I think people will welcome the opportunity to live and work in buildings of stunning architectural quality. We've seen it happen elsewhere now there is a chance for it to happen in Middlesbrough."

Lessons Learned

Creating a community has to be a top priority to make such a development a sustainable success. Deputy chief executive of Quintain Nick Shattock says:"People want to talk about where they live and be proud of where they live.”

Middlehaven offers more then housing necessity, it offers a new life style.

By providing all the amenities a community wishes this development reduces the need for residents to have to use cars and other transport. This in turn helps the environment.