FEATURE
Housing – the ambitious Crown Square development will include more than 230 build-to-rent properties and student accommodation for more than 400 people.
Vision – an artist’ s impression of how a dramatically transformed Gresham could look.
£ 200m development project’ s name honours the past and looks forward to a gleaming future
BORO’ S JEWELS IN THE CROWN SQUARE
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drive to take the heart of Middlesbrough forward with decisive regeneration is now becoming a reality.
Developers iMpeC and Buccleuch Property have teamed up with the Middlesbrough Development Corporation on a £ 200m vision to breathe new life into Gresham.
And the town’ s biggest development in generations now has a name: Crown Square. iMpeC director Neil McMillan is leading the charge to make Crown Square a northern beacon by building on the town’ s strengths and gems it has to offer.
“ This is a regeneration project,” said Neil.“ We’ ve looked at the challenges in the town, but we’ ve also identified and recognised some of the wonderful things going on.
Heritage – how the area currently looks from above, including the white dome of the former Crown pub, which helped inspire the new development’ s name.
Aerial – a CGI of how the finished development will look from the sky.
“ It has a major university which has just invested £ 280m, some really rapidly growing digital businesses – and billions of pounds going into Teesworks, creating jobs in advanced manufacturing.
“ You’ ve got a bustling professional services sector – so there are some wonderful things happening attracting people to work in and around the town.
“ But ultimately, the town centre needs regenerating to both attract and retain those talented people. That is key.”
Crown Square’ s first phase planning permission has been secured. More than 230 build-to-rent properties and student accommodation for more than 400 people are among the project’ s first landmark strides.
Neil pointed to how Crown Square will address Middlesbrough’ s housing shortage through new solutions.
Neil said:“ This first phase will create a new accommodation offer for the town,
providing a lifestyle offer that isn’ t available at the moment.”
The student accommodation block will be managed by a national operator with onsite concierge staff and cutting-edge social spaces.
A series of one, two and three-bed apartments will make up the build-to-rent project – with lounge spaces, breakout areas for remote working and shared highquality amenities, including a private gym.
Neil also explained how the hotel – one of the country’ s first by Fairfield by Marriott – will meet an unmet demand and make a statement on Borough Road as people come into Middlesbrough from the A66.
He said:“ It’ s the type of hotel brand you associate with successful towns and cities. It’ ll be one of the first things visitors will see as they arrive.”
Hoardings are set to appear around the sites in the early summer, with building to ramp up in early autumn.
When it came to the new name, Neil explained how – alongside ensuring safety and security – honouring the area’ s heritage was a high priority.
“ It’ s the history and heritage of this part of town,” he said.“ There’ s The Crown itself – the old ABC – but all the streets in the area are names after jewels – and this was an important way of marking the past while also looking to the future.”
There will be more chance for the public and businesses to have their say soon – with a consultation on Crown Square’ s second phase taking place in summer.
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