Middlesbrough: Built for What’s Next

By Middlesbrough Mayor, Chris Cooke

I spend a lot of my time as Mayor making the case for Middlesbrough. I’ve joked that certain government officials have considered restraining orders such are the levels of my persistence. As a town we’re often misunderstood and underestimated. It’s for that reason that one of the best parts of my job is when I meet someone who very quickly grasps the opportunities that exist in the town.

That’s why I’m excited that we’ll hear from Capital & Centric co-founder Tim Heatley at our UKREiiF session, Middlesbrough: Built for What’s Next.

The social impact developer’s imaginative approach and proven track record made it the standout candidate to work with on our aspirations for the Middlehaven area of our town. The most exciting regeneration projects often present themselves at sites with complex backstories and Middlehaven certainly fits that bill.

The dockside land has been something of a missed opportunity for Middlesbrough in decades gone by. Visions for the future have come and gone. There have been housing successes, but only on a limited scale. Enormous amounts of potential remain untapped.

With Capital & Centric’s input, we firmly believe we’re on the cusp of a redevelopment that can make its mark on Middlesbrough and the wider Tees Valley region. Up to 3,400 houses and apartments can be built in the area, but we’re planning more than simply somewhere to live.

We’re working with the Department for Education and Outwood Grange Academies Trust on a new secondary school that will open in 2027. Also nearby, we’re redeveloping our precious Old Town Hall, originally built in 1846, in a £6m National Lottery Heritage Fund-backed project.

Middlehaven – originally known as St Hilda’s – was the birthplace of modern Middlesbrough. Transforming the area with aspirational waterside housing alongside new leisure and retail opportunities will help the town look to the future as it gets ready to celebrate its 200^th birthday in 2030.

The mix of housing at Middlehaven would appeal to families, students and young professionals alike. The area sits next to the bases of many of our digital success stories. These companies are made in Middlesbrough and go on to do business around the world.

Behaviour UK will also join us to help set out how our digital sector – judged to be the fastest growing outside London – can continue to punch above its weight and provide well-paid jobs for the students pouring out of our town centre university and college campuses.

Come along for the tales of how I badger those in power. You’ll leave emotionally invested in our town with stacks of killer facts about the games and digital products that are developed here.