An asset review of council-owned buildings and land had been drawn up in a bid to raise an estimated £33m for the local authority. In a letter to staff, the council said sales would be expected to take place between now and March 2027.
Other council properties such as family hubs, community centres and crematoria will be reviewed once future operations for various services are agreed. Meanwhile, the future of the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum is being considered while the Executive has agreed to sell off land at Nunthorpe Grange for housing.
The full list of the council buildings and land earmarked for disposal or closure under the asset review:
Sales of buildings and assets
- The closure and sale of Middlesbrough House customer centre on Corporation Road, relocating staff to Fountain Court and other council buildings
- The closure and sale of Multi Media Exchange on Corporation Road. Relocate Middlesbrough Community Learning to the Cleveland Centre
- The closure and sale of 3 Park Road North and Lloyd Street Depot
- Sale of the Tees AMP (Tees Advanced Manufacturing Park) 1 and 2 buildings near Newport Bridge and the Viewley Centre in Hemlington
- Sale of commerical properties at Letitia Industrial Estate as well as those at Lorne Street, Howard Street, Gilkes Street, Carcut Road and Florence/Italy Street units
- Sell the Middlesbrough Municipal Golf Centre with appropriate covenants to secure its permanent use as a golf club
- Sell the Zetland Street Car Park with the appropriate covenants in place to secure its permanent use as a car park
Sale of the following sites for potential housing development
- Land east of Middlesbrough Municipal Golf Centre Driving Range at Ladgate Lane
- Stainsby Road in Acklam
- Hemlington Grange (east)
- Coulby Farm Way east/west
- Land west of Toby Carvery in Marton
- Muirfield in Nunthorpe
Sale of the following sites for commercial development
- Cannon Park Car Parks 1 and 2
- Corporation Quay.
Relocation of services
- Relocate the Live Well Centre wellbeing hub from Dundas House to the Cleveland Centre
- Relocate children’s services staff from the Viewley Centre in Hemlington to other council buildings.
- Consider the long term future of Resolution House on Cargo Fleet Lane, with a view to identifying a new depot solution.
- Consider the long term usage of the Town Hall to justify ongoing investment.
- Other council properties such as family hubs, community centres and crematoria will be reviewed once the future operating models for various services are agreed.
Other considerations
- The long term future of Resolution House on Cargo Fleet Lane, with a view to identifying a new depot solution
- The long term use of the Town Hall to justify ongoing investment
- Other council properties such as family hubs, community centres and crematoria will be reviewed once the future operating models for various services are agreed.
The council is battling to plug an expected funding gap of almost £6.3m for 2024/25 while facing dwindling reserves. If the council is unable to balance the books, it could be forced to issue a section 114 notice, effectively declaring itself bankrupt.
The asset review has proved hugely controversial with some Conservative councillors describing it as “a fire sale”. Nunthorpe councillor Mieka Smiles made a request for the executive approval to be “called in” but this was rejected.
And in a letter to Simon Hoare, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Government, Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, along with MP for Middlesbrough and East Cleveland, Simon Clarke, and four Conservative councillors, said the plans to sell off council-owned buildings “warrants serious debate”. They also questioned the estimated £33m expected to be raised.
At a meeting of the full council in November, Executive member for finance and governance, Cllr Nicky Walker said: “We haven’t got a fire sale, we have a review of our assets. But if it went to section 114, a fire sale is what would happen.”
Mayor Chris Cooke said: “We need to provide the services people need and provide buildings that are right for people. What we don’t do is stand in the town’s way by not allowing progress because we want to keep hold of a small strip of land or a warehouse somewhere when actually the private sector could have brilliant plans to bring more jobs and more economic growth and we need to make sure we balance those two things.”
