Daniel Hodgson

A second proposal to convert a house on Jesmond Avenue, Linthorpe, into a two-place children's home has been rejected by planning officers because it would constitute a material change of use requiring planning permission. An appeal against the earlier refusal of permission for a three-place home remains ongoing with the Planning Inspectorate. The applicant argues that council officers had recommended approval and that the refusal over alleged overconcentration was unsupported by defined thresholds or detailed evidence; eight children's homes were previously reported within a one-mile radius.

The Den, an underground music venue on Baker Street in Middlesbrough, has applied for a minor variation to its premises licence. The change would allow live and recorded music to continue until midnight from Monday to Saturday, one hour later than currently permitted, while Sunday hours and other licensable activities such as alcohol sales would remain unchanged. Middlesbrough Council is consulting on the application, with public representations due by 20 August 2026.

The Tees Valley Combined Authority Cabinet approved formal loan agreements covering approximately £421 million previously advanced to the South Tees Development Corporation for the Teesworks regeneration site. The agreements establish repayment schedules, annual reviews of affordability and financial resilience, and oversight requirements for significant changes. Independent modelling by Arlingclose concluded that STDC should be able to repay the relevant loans by 2046, including under a stressed scenario. Further approval is required from the STDC Board, while officials and the finance portfolio holder may approve future advances within an existing £350 million facility.

Middlesbrough Council is considering advertising applications for a new Lidl store at the former Cleveland College of Art and Design site on Green Lane, including illuminated fascia, flagpole, poster, billboard and directional signs. The council has also approved, with conditions, a B2 industrial building on Brewsdale Road in North Ormesby, alongside several residential extensions, commercial changes of use and advertising proposals. Other applications were refused, withdrawn or approved with conditions.

Lounge Afrique nightclub in Middlesbrough remains closed under a suspended premises licence after Cleveland Police sought an expedited review following the alleged rape of a teenage girl who had attended the venue. Middlesbrough Council’s licensing sub-committee also removed the designated premises supervisor, citing safeguarding concerns, alleged failures to check identification and breaches of conditions restricting under-18s after 9pm. Licence holder Percy Quarcoo proposed a new supervisor, security team and electronic ID scanners, but the committee found that the measures had not yet been implemented and upheld the suspension until a full hearing on 17 August. Police said a 28-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of rape and remained on bail while the investigation continued.

Middlesbrough Council has removed the Grade II-listed Exchange House and adjoining Wood Street car park from its auction process after receiving interest in the vacant property. The £450,000, six-level building had been marketed since October 2025 as a redevelopment opportunity, potentially for residential apartments or a mixed-use scheme, subject to planning regulations. The council decided in 2022 to dispose of the building, but is now reviewing its options.

Middlesbrough Council is considering a retrospective application to convert car parking at The Saltersgill on Beverley Road into an outdoor seating area with decking, seating and a post-and-rope boundary. Other live applications include extensions, tree work and retrospective alterations across the borough. The council has also approved several applications, including four light industrial units at the former Crombie’s site, subject to conditions.

A senior University Hospital Tees officer estimates that rebuilding North Tees hospital could cost between £1bn and £2bn, up sharply from earlier estimates of about £380m. Options include rebuilding on the existing Stockton site, constructing a facility at the Tees railway marshalling yards, or combining services from North Tees and James Cook University Hospital in a central “mega hospital.” The ageing North Tees estate has a £126m maintenance backlog, projected to reach £300m by 2033, and has suffered flooding-related theatre closures. Councillors and NHS officials agree that doing nothing is no longer viable, but the project’s timeline and final location remain unresolved.

Roadworks across Middlesbrough and surrounding areas are scheduled or ongoing between July 20 and 26, including major repair work on the A172 Stokesley Road and A174 Marton interchange, temporary closures on Stokesley Road sections, and various utility, footpath, and verge works across multiple streets. New pedestrian crossing points are being installed on Windward Way and The Leeway. Diversions, lane restrictions, and temporary signals will be in place throughout the affected periods.