Plans to develop Nunthorpe Hall Farm and Blacksmith’s Yard have been welcomed by one of the business tenants.
The sale of the historic buildings in Nunthorpe Village were given the green light by Middlesbrough Council’s executive subcommittee for property last week.
It gives permission for the West Side sites to be marketed with development guidance from the North of England Civic Trust (NECT), which outlines that the main farm building and the Blacksmith’s Yard should remain as they are externally but can be turned into homes.
Peter Drummond, owner of Heritage Upholstery, has leased one of the Blacksmith’s Yard workshops for 24 years.
At 65, he plans to retire in May so he said he “will be out before any development starts anyway”.
“I’m pleased that they’re converting them and not knocking them down,” said Peter, a dad-of-two and grandad-of-two from Acklam in Middlesbrough.
“The agricultural land that goes with it will stay so they’re not building on that so it’s a good thing.
“I think when it’s done it will a nice development.”
Peter’s business started in Enterprise Centre on Silver Street in Middlesbrough in 1982, where he stayed for four years before moving to Stockton Street close by.
He said when an opportunity arose to move in at Blacksmith’s Yard, he jumped at the chance to set up his business there.
His workshop was originally the joiners for Nunthorpe Hall while next door was the blacksmith’s.
“There were 12 blacksmiths working in there and this (his workshop) was where all the cartwheels were made.”
He added he will miss his workshop: “Some men have their sheds, I have this place. It’s been brilliant.”
Next door to Heritage Upholstery is another workshop but Peter says this is currently used by another business on a short-term lease for storage.
The development proposals - which will have a maximum of 20 homes - were first put forward in April 2012. In July 2013 the sale of the properties was approved. They are currently let by the council for farming and commercial use.
Marton West ward Councillor Chris Hobson, said there is “disappointment about the loss of jobs” but she added: “This will eventually be an asset for Nunthorpe.”
The tenant of Nunthorpe Hall Farm, whose family - livestock farmers A & R Wilson - has lived at the property since 1932, declined to comment on the development plans.
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