Crunch vote on trio of huge new Middlesbrough office blocks
A CRUNCH decision on efforts to bring three huge new office blocks to Middlesbrough will be made this week.
Developer Ashall Projects wants to build a trio of three and four-storey buildings in Centre Square – including an office on the duck pond site.
The vision also includes the potential for a ground floor café and restaurant space and extra car parking in the town centre.
Council planning officials have recommended the proposals for approval, saying the offices would be a “significant addition” to the town centre to help “reinvigorate” Centre Square.
But there have been some concerns about the potential loss of the water and wildlife area in the urban centre.
Outline planning for a similar scheme on the stretch was approved in 2017 – with a masterplan for five offices given the green light.
Ashall Projects was behind the two new office buildings completed in Centre Square in 2019.
The firm also saw its plans for “Six Centre Square” – a four-storey office on the vacant Melrose House site, in Melrose Street, approved in March.
The three new office blocks are forecast to have a total floor space of more than 125,000 sq ft.
In the past, Ashall has said the buildings could be delivered within two years, subject to permission being granted.
There have been nine objections to the vision ahead of Friday’s planning committee – with worries about the loss of the town centre pond and its wildlife.
Objector Adrian Walker believed Middlesbrough had a “glut” of office buildings in the centre and didn’t need any more.
He added: “Existing buildings should be refurbished or replaced first.
“It has taken long enough to occupy the existing new office buildings.
“The pond provides a pleasant green oasis amongst an otherwise sterile built environment. It should be left as such.”
Another objector added: “The Middlesbrough pond has been there for years and supports wildlife such as swans and ducks who also breed there.
“It is visited by birds and likely other wildlife. There are few green spaces in Middlesbrough as it is.
“Please think about our environment – we are supposed to be protecting this, not reducing the number of green places.”
A design statement from the developer stated it was a “common misconception” that there wasn’t demand for office space in the town centre due to empty units.
It added: “This is not the case – it is just that these buildings are not fit for purpose and that even with extensive investment to improve them would not meet the standards of a modern Grade A office.
“One and Two Centre Square have demonstrated that there is a market for high quality developments in the town, circa 85% of the 100,000 sq ft available is now let to a variety of tenants including those in the digital and professional sectors.”
More pond worries
There was also some discussion of the plans at Tuesday’s executive meeting (July 13).
Cllr Mick Saunders, member for Park End and Beckfield, said there weren’t many green spaces in the centre of town.
She added: “I’m just concerned if the council decides if they can fill that pond in and build on it, there will be very robust opposition towards it.
“The habitat for wildlife there is really good for the town.”
Cllr Joan McTigue said the lake was loved, appreciated, and needed by a lot of people.
She added: “It’s somewhere where people congregate on a night-time in the summer and this town lacks places like that where the community can come together.”
Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston said the pond was loved – adding he was aware of a large number of people who were “uncomfortable” with any threat to it.
But he also told the chamber the land was owned by Ashall – not the council.
Mr Preston said: “Anything that happens to that – for instance, if we wanted to expand the pond, or they did, or someone else did – is completely out of Middlesbrough Council’s control other than in the planning process.
“We don’t own the land, and don’t have any say on what goes on with it, unless it comes to planning.
“The planning committee, independent as they are, will make that decision.”
Councillors will vote on the trio of office blocks on Friday afternoon.