Wates appointed to deliver the major Gresham regeneration project in Middlesbrough

Wates has been appointed to deliver a major regeneration project expected to transform an abandoned area at the heart of the town.

The regeneration of a large disused brownfield site in Gresham is being spearheaded by the mayoral-led Middlesbrough Development Corporation (MDC), which has joined forces with experienced property developers iMpeC and Buccleuch Property.

The transformational project sits as part of the wider Middlesbrough masterplan, with the first phase including more than 230 build-to-rent properties and residential accommodation for more than 450 students.

International hotel brand Fairfield by Marriott is also in discussions to open a 200-bedroom hotel as part of the wide-scale regeneration project.

A planning application for the first phase of the project is set to be submitted in the coming weeks.

Subject to planning permission and MDC board approval, building work on the project could start as soon as early summer 2025.

The wider aim of the scheme is to offer high-quality accommodation to attract and retain talent in the town, support the growth of Teesside University and kick-start plans to regenerate the centre of Middlesbrough by attracting up to 4,000 jobs.

David Wingfield, Managing director for Construction East at Wates, said: “We’ve been working in the centre of Middlesbrough for nearly a decade, helping cement the town as a key growth region in the North East through our builds.

“The Gresham regeneration will help accelerate this potential even further, bringing a disused area back to life through the creation of community, and we’re incredibly proud to be appointed to deliver it.

“We firmly believe that large-scale regeneration projects should go beyond the lifecycle of a building, providing opportunities that can support communities for generations.

“We plan to deliver more than £50 million in social value to Middlesbrough through this scheme, aligning with our values to create thriving places and allowing us to make a lasting impact in the heart of the community”

Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor, added: “We all know decades of failure have blighted Gresham but we’re now putting that right. Having a renowned contractor in Wates leading our push in the heart of Middlesbrough is a big boost.

“We’ve set a marker down in priming a Marriott hotel for Middlesbrough’s skyline and I’m now looking forward to seeing spades in the ground to bring more developments, more quality accommodation and more jobs to the town as soon as we can.”