Member Article

Middlesbrough Property Company’s Fresh Bid to Build Homes on Acklam Iron & Steelworks Site Rejected

A fresh attempt to build houses on the Acklam Iron & Steelworks Social Club land has been rejected again following objections from Sports England. The plans, spearheaded by property company HH Properties would have created over 100 homes on the parcel of land. Middlesbrough property developer Peter Hall and Leon White appealed to the UK Planning Inspectorate after the initial rejection in June. Their plans would see the current club demolished and replaced with 96 houses and 28 flats. The inspectors upheld the original decision and dismissed the appeal.

The Acklam site has been the subject of a complex development history and initial plans to turn the space into housing were recommended in September 2017. This decision was then put on hold in order to review the findings of Middlesbrough Council’s Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS). All local authorities must have an up-to-date PPS that ensures there is enough high-quality playing pitches and fields to meet the needs of the local supporting community. Committee chair Margaret Walters requested clarification on the developers’ insistence that the pitch had not been used as a playing field for five years.

The officer replied: “Other than the statement from the developer saying when the last organised game was played there, we don’t really have any evidence that it hasn’t been used as a playing field since then.”

She stated that the council considered the land as suitable for housing but, because it had not been possible to identify a replacement site for the pitch, the application had been recommended for refusal.

Rob Duckworth, Director of Duckworth Planning and Design Ltd has worked alongside Middlesbrough born Peter Hall and HH Properties on the appeals process.

“Planning applications for a housing development of 96 houses and 28 apartments were submitted to Middlesbrough Borough Council along with an application with a new social club on the site of the former Acklam Iron And Steel Works Athletic Club on Park Road South, Middlesbrough.

The application was submitted after the site was football pitch went unused for a number of years following the football club dropping from the League. The redevelopment as housing and a new social club being the preferred options. The social club would replace and improve the existing facility which still provides a community function. The housing is to aid in the delivery of the new club whilst providing much-needed housing at a reasonable price to the local area on a site that is currently serving no purpose. The delivery of this housing will also boost employment in the area during construction and when complete will give an added boost to the economy through the increased use of services and facilities in the area.“

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by HH Properties NE Ltd .