A new chapter for Middlehaven is now officially under way. 

On Wednesday night, Middlesbrough Council's team of Executive councillors approved a partnership with regeneration specialists Capital & Centric to build thousands of new homes 'Over the border'. 

It's hoped the partnership can create a thriving and vibrant new community within walking distance of Middlesbrough town centre.

The long-unused land - previously home to generations of Middlesbrough residents - formed the original heart of the town, which boomed from a small hamlet in 1830 to an industrial powerhouse on the bank of the Tees.

Scroll down to find out:

✅ What happens next now the decision has been made

✅ How Capital & Centric has transformed other towns 

✅ The momentum already building at Middlehaven

✅ What council leaders say about the project

What happens now?

The exciting new vision will see up to 3,400 houses and apartments built in the area around the Old Town Hall and towards the waterfront at Middlehaven Dock.

The area is known by many names to people from Middlesbrough - more recently it's Middlehaven, while older generations may call it St Hilda's after the now-demolished church, which was built in the decade after the bustling new town of Middlesbrough was born nearly 200 years ago.

Many others know it colloquially as 'Over the border' - a term given after a second railway line effectively split off the oldest part of Middlesbrough from the growing town centre and suburbs spreading south of it.

Capital & Centric is known for delivering imaginative town and city centre neighbourhoods on challenging brownfield sites.

To move forward, Middlesbrough Council has now agreed to spend £3.6m, allocated from the government's Towns Fund, to get designs to the stage where a construction contractor can be appointed.

Capital & Centric will now pull together more detailed plans on the mix and location of homes, which will also feature new leisure and retail attractions.

The scheme will be delivered in phases over the coming years.

It will focus on creating well-designed neighbourhoods and help to reconnect Middlehaven with the rest of the town.

And the development is hoped to address a number of long term issues faced in Middlesbrough: 

• A lack of high-quality urban housing that appeals to lots of different people, particularly young professionals and families
• Transforming the look of run-down and unused land
• Stopping young people - especially skilled and professional workers - from moving away from Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke and Capital&Centric Co-Founder Tim Heatley in Middlehaven

Who are Capital & Centric?

Manchester-based Capital & Centric are an award-winning regeneration company known for taking on difficult, long-neglected sites and turning them into attractive places to live and work. 

It describes itself as a 'social-impact developer' and aims to create developments built to a high standard with a clear sense of identity. 

The company focuses on strong design, long-lasting buildings and developments that reflect the unique character of each area.

Its track record includes:

Weir Mill (Stockport): A major restoration project turning historic mill buildings into homes, public spaces and riverside walkways.

Kampus (Manchester): A new neighbourhood created around renovated mill buildings, featuring independent food & drink and modern homes.

Goods Yard (Stoke-on-Trent): Homes, workspace and cafés built on a former industrial site, helping to kick-start wider regeneration.

Baltic Triangle projects (Liverpool): Restored heritage buildings and brought them back into use for housing and creative industries.

Middlehaven's momentum

Several major projects are already helping to reshape the area.

Landmark office development Boho X is now the headquarters of internationally renowned games studio Double Eleven. 

It forms the centrepiece of the thriving wider Boho Zone, one of the fastest growing digital and creative clusters in the country.

New housing is already taking shape too with apartments at Bohouse North providing homes for workers in the digital industry.

Modern new houses and apartments have also proven popular close to the historic Captain Cook pub — saved from ruin by Middlesbrough Council and now ready to let.

Education is a major strength in Middlehaven - Middlesbrough College continues to flourish, while nearby, construction of the new Outwood Academy Riverside secondary school is well under way.

Heritage is also being protected. The historic Old Town Hall will be restored after Midddlesbrough Council secured National Lottery funding to bring the landmark back into use. The newly renovated Exchange Square, home to the popular STACK and the refurbished railway station, is just a short walk away.

It all sits close to where Capital & Centric’s development will rebuild on the footprints of the old streets of St Hilda’s that once supported a bustling community.

'An enormous opportunity'

Mayor Chris Cooke said the partnership represents “an enormous opportunity” for Middlesbrough. 

He said the proposals offer the chance to grow the town’s population, support local businesses and build confidence in an area with significant potential.

During Wednesday night's Executive meeting, Mayor Cooke said: "This is a proper, council-led project with a credible partner who has done this before.

"I am excited not only to see how this project develops, but to see how we can include people from Middlesbrough.

"It's truly a project for the whole town."

Cllr Theo Furness, Executive Member for Development, presented the report to Executive.

He said: "We must proceed with a note of caution as we've seen a number of big promises for Middlehaven over the decades that just haven't come off.

"But we will work hard as a council to ensure we bring this forward - it's an exciting project that can be genuinely ground-breaking for the town.

"It can bring all of the good work going on at Middlehaven together. 

"We want to make this part of Middlesbrough a place where people live again."

Mayor Chris Cooke and Exec Member for Development Theo Furness after the Executive meeting