Crown Square scheme set to change the face of Middlesbrough collapses
Plus: By-election results in Darlington and Stockton
Hello and welcome to latest edition of The Teesside Lead,
As is the way, Leigh returned last week - with a cracker of a story on the AI Data Centre at Teesworks - and sadly has since been one of the many who has been struck down by the surge in flu cases.
We are determined to keep an edition dropping into your inbox each Sunday (with midweek editions too), so he’s sent on a few tales from his sick bed he’s asked us to pull together for you.
So please accept our apologies for a briefer edition, but it means you’re bang up to date with the stories setting the agenda in Tees Valley politics. Leigh is resting up and will be back in your inbox himself next week. Now, to the news…
Teesside in brief (extended edition)
🏙️The Crown Square development of a hotel, student accommodation and built-to-rent apartments in the heart of Middlesbrough has been branded as “financially unviable.”
Due to be completed by early 2028 it’s now “national economic headwinds” to blame for the scheme being on hold, according to a report which has gone to the Middlesbrough Development Corporation (MDC).
Described when announced as the single largest investment in Middlesbrough in a generation it would have seen a new Marriott hotel on the skyline from mid-2027.
The upcoming meeting of the MDC on Thursday 18 December will be asked to reassess the options for the Gresham development to ‘bring forward a viable scheme’ and officially pause the current scheme in the meantime.
A budget allocation of £11.466m has already been put towards the project. It is due to create 1,500 new homes and 4,000 jobs.
At the unveiling of the name and brand of Crown Square in May, Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “The time for talk is over, and now we can start to see even more action on the ground to build on our massive strengths in digital industries and provide for our growing university. This will allow us to nurture our talent so our young people stay local and go far.
“We’ve got developers on board with a great hunger and a very good pedigree – and a brilliant vision for all to see. Now it’s time to put it into action and deliver what has been promised to Middlesbrough for so long – and I’d urge other businesses, developers and ambitious company owners to come with us.”
Exactly what happens with those development partners, iMpeC and Bucchleuch Property remains far from clear.
🗳️The Conservatives are celebrating as they held an Eaglescliffe West seat in a decisive by-election victory.
Stephen Dodds won the Stockton Council seat with almost 1,200 votes, 61 per cent of the vote. Reform UK’s candidate came second with 24 per cent of the vote while Labour were beaten into last place with 7.5 per cent of the vote, just behind the Green Party which won 150 votes.
The by-election, which drew a 36 per cent turnout from an electorate of 5472 people, took place after the resignation of Conservative councillor Laura Tunney.
Labour faced defeat, having polled 1,117 votes between two candidates in 2023 but just 147 votes this time, with hundreds of votes going to Reform. Stockton Conservative group leader cllr Tony Riordan said on social media: “The Conservative group win, and keep their vote share.
“The Labour group handed their vote share to Reform. Bye bye Labour, you may as well give up now.”
🗳️ Meanwhile in Darlington, Reform UK is celebrating victory in aby-election after being elected onto the council for the first time.
Michael Walker came first in the Red Hall and Lingfield poll on Thursday (December 11) and will represent the ward on Darlington Borough Council.
The by-election was called following the resignation of former Labour councillor Amanda Riley, who stood down earlier this year due to ill-health. The ward is also represented by Councillor Mandy Porter, cabinet member for resources.
Mr Walker secured 341 votes, with Liberal Democrat Simon Thorley and Conservative Kyle Bartch tied second on 157 votes. Labour’s Jonnie Vasey came third with 152 votes.
A total of 907 votes were cast – a turnout of 27.47 per cent.
Ahead of the by-election, Mr Walker vowed to stand up for residents and make sure their voices are heard “loud and clear”. He also pledged to demand value for money from the council, tackle anti-social behaviour and fight for better special educational needs provision.
The current makeup of the council consists of 23 Labour, 13 Conservatives, six Greens, five Independents, two Liberal Democrats, and one Reform.
Reporting for this edition draws on the BBC Local Democracy Reporting Services stories Daniel Hodgson, Gareth Lightfoot and Bill Edgar
What did the people of Teesside ever do to end up with Ben Houchen as mayor, aside from voting him in!? So that's the Teesport development at Redcar, the Airport and now Crown Square where much has been announced but little achieved, despite leaking public funds like a sieve. Rather than the heralded green energy project on the riverside, it looks like an energy guzzling Data Centre is on its way. When will someone properly bring his record to account?
Sharp reporting. The Crown Square collapse hitting the pause button after £11.5m was already allocated is the kind of thing that erodes trust in regeneration promises long-term. I worked on a smaller urban renewal project a few years back and "national economic headwinds" is often shorthand for financing falling through when projections don't match reality. What's intresting is how the by-election results show Reform gaining ground in both areas, suggests voters are looking for alternatives when flagship projects like this stall out.