The Homes and Community Agency confirm it is seeking new private sector partner or consortium for stalled Middlesbrough dockland project
Middlehaven plans
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The hunt has begun to find a developer to restart the £200m regeneration of Middlehaven.
Government regeneration body The Homes and Community Agency has confirmed it is seeking a new private sector partner or consortium for the stalled Middlesbrough dockland project.
The move comes after previous developer BioRegional Quintain pulled out in November 2011 after earlier pledging to deliver 750 homes, alongside shops and leisure facilities - and more than 2,000 jobs.
An HCA spokesman confirmed the new developer would be responsible for obtaining planning consent, delivering development “on a timely basis” and working with the HCA and its regeneration partner Middlesbrough Council.
Under the new plan, the developer would take the freehold and be responsible for costs involved with the management of the property including repairs and maintenance, insurance and security.
The development of Middlehaven has been one of the longest-running regeneration schemes on Teesside dating back several decades - and has suffered a number of delays and setbacks.
The decision by BRQ to withdraw its RiversideOne scheme came as it has completed the first residential housing on site - an 80-flat apartment block known as Community In a Cube. At the time the firm said it wanted to focus on the London property market.
In 2004 a radical masterplan for the brownfield site was unveiled by renowned architect Will Alsop.
Since then the site has seen the completion of the £70m Middlesbrough College and a number of other multi-million pound projects.
Plans have also been separately unveiled for a new 80,000sq ft Sainsbury’s store next to the A66 at Middlehaven.
The store is part of a wider £35m retail and leisure scheme which would include a KFC drive-through, a coffee shop run by a national operator, a Marston’s family restaurant and a Sainsbury’s petrol filling station.
Sainsbury’s would close its current Wilson Street store.
That site would potentially be developed as an extension to the town centre and connection to any future development at the Western Gateway.
Councillor Charlie Rooney, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive member for regeneration and economic development, said: “Middlehaven remains a hugely important project and we continue, along with our partners, to take a pro-active approach to its regeneration.
“In recent years the site has seen investment of well over £100m, which has included the re-siting of Middlesbrough College, Temenos, a variety of businesses and homes and just this month the opening of The Gateway neurological rehabilitation centre. There are also impressive plans for refurbishment of the iconic Transporter Bridge and an extension of Middlesbrough College’s facilities. This is a fantastic opportunity for developers to become involved.”
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