Middlesbrough鈥檚 Grade ll-listed old town hall, built in 1846 but shut since 1996, is getting a new lease of life with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The building is now set to be brought back into productive use as part of Middlesbrough Council鈥檚 wider regeneration vision for Middlehaven, in line with plans drawn up by heritage restoration specialists Group Ginger.
Over the next 12 months Northallerton-based Walter Thompson (Contractors) will develop the Grade ll-listed structure into a business space within the town鈥檚 burgeoning Boho Zone.
Once complete, the refurbished Old Town Hall will provide more than 7,000 sq ft of office accommodation aimed at the digital and creative sector.
The 拢6.3m project will see the demolition of a 1970s extension to the building, alongside essential structural work. The original clock tower will also be restored and brought back into use, while a modern marketplace extension will be a key feature of the town鈥檚 bicentenary celebrations in 2028.
Walter Thompson managing director Paul Hammerton said: 鈥淭his is a hugely important project for Middlesbrough and one we鈥檙e very proud to be delivering. Bringing a building of this significance back into use is about more than construction, it鈥檚 about respecting its history while ensuring it has a sustainable future for generations to come. We鈥檙e looking forward to working closely with Middlesbrough Council and the wider project team to see the old town hall come back to life.鈥�
The project has been made possible through more than 拢4.5m of funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, alongside 拢1.8m of existing government funding.
Councillor Theo Furness, Middlesbrough Council鈥檚 executive member for development, said: 鈥淭he old town hall is one of the real icons of Middlesbrough鈥檚 history and heritage, and I鈥檓 delighted to see it being brought back into use. It鈥檚 been a key feature of the town鈥檚 skyline for 180 years, and these ambitious plans will ensure it continues to play an important role in the life of聽 the town for many decades to come. The Old Town Hall is both a potent symbol of Middlesbrough鈥檚 industrial heyday, and of the boundless ambition and aspiration we have for the future.鈥�
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