28 | Tees Business
Middlesbrough
mayor launches
£45m digital city
development
Middlesbrough-based Logik
Architecture produced these images
of the digital development.
THE SKY’S
THE LIMIT!
W
hat is believed to be the
biggest single investment in
Middlesbrough’s history has
been unveiled by the town’s
mayor Andy Preston.
The mayor launched a £45m state-of-the-
art investment to kick-start a wider £250m
development he believes can make the
town the UK’s “digital city”.
The first phase in what could be a
£250m project, the massive expansion
to Middlesbrough’s digital district will
see the creation of a digital campus,
comprising around 115,000 sq ft of prime
accommodation for the digital sector.
The first phase is being built to meet
the increased demands of Tees Valley’s
cutting-edge sector, and will host an
additional 1,000 digital and creative jobs,
rising to 2,000 with future phases. Almost
400 jobs will also be created through the
construction of the project.
The transformative new development will
include the tallest building for 30 miles, a
20-storey, 250-foot-high tower – featuring
a helipad – with panoramic views including
coastline and moorland.
The campus building will feature state-
of-the-art offices, a 750-seat indoor arena
beneath a glass atrium and a 400-seat
outdoor amphitheatre to host events such
as lectures and entertainment.
Two complementary 20-storey residential
blocks offering high-quality apartments are
also due to be created for professionals
working in the field.
An application for planning permission will
be submitted early in the New Year – slightly
delayed whilst environmentally-friendly
additions were made – with construction
set to start in the summer of 2020.
The development is part of ambitious
Mayor Preston said: “For
plans to transform Middlesbrough into
the next few years my
a “Digital Hercules”.
obsession, my mission, my
purpose on this planet is to get
Middlesbrough on track as the
digital city.
“This is a £45m first step of
a quarter of a billion pounds
scheme that will propel
Middlesbrough on a journey to
become the UK’s digital capital
– bringing investment, jobs and
prosperity to the town.
“The sky’s the limit if we
think big – and that’s exactly
what we’re doing with
this project. All of the old
perceptions of Middlesbrough
are going to go out of the
window.
“We want our existing digital
businesses to grow, regional
businesses to realise this is the place to be,
joint funded by the Tees Valley Combined
and national and international businesses to
Authority and Middlesbrough Council, with
be attracted here.
a further £15m investment in residential
“We can do that by ensuring we have
accommodation by a third-party consortium.
the best office space with the best facilities
Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen said:
and environment, and the most positive
“This is another transformational project
mindset.”
which shows just what can happen
And he promised any cynics will eat
when mayors work together. With this
their words, adding: “I don’t care what’s
development, Middlesbrough could soon
happened in the past with the empty
become the digital powerhouse of the UK.
promises.
“We’re already home to some world-
“This isn’t another pipe dream that might
leading digital businesses that have packed
happen in two, four or ten years’ time. This
Middlesbrough’s existing digital zone. Now
is happening now.
we’ll be able to throw open our doors to
“We have the money and investors in
other companies desperate to relocate
place. Planning consent will be sought
here, bringing with them jobs and a huge
within weeks and construction will start
economic boost.
next summer.”
“This impressive new skyscraper will
The £30m office development is being
show the Boro is on the up – literally.