Work starts on Middlesbrough’s Old Town Hall
Group Ginger assembled a team to oversee the £6.3m restoration of the landmark in June 2024, and now contractor Walter Thompson will redevelop the grade two-listed building into office space within the town’s Boho Zone.
Led by Middlesbrough Council and with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the wider project team consists of Civic Engineers, Max Fordham, RLB, and Planit.
The space has been designed for digital start-ups, complementing the town’s tech-driven reputation, which includes the 60,000 sq ft Boho X workspace developed with £21m in backing from the Tees Valley Combined Authority and fully occupied by games developer Double Eleven.
The project will see the demolition of a 1970s extension to the building, alongside structural work and the restoration of the original clock tower.
A marketplace extension will also be added and will be a key feature of the town’s bicentenary celebrations in 2028.
The Old Town Hall is at the centre of Middlesbrough Council’s regeneration drive, which last year saw it enter into a partnership with Capital&Centric that will see three new neighbourhoods with a combined 3,400 homes delivered in the area around the historic building.
£3.6m of the council’s Towns Fund allocation from government is currently enabling Capital&Centric to develop develop designs for the scheme up to RIBA Stage 4, and to enable the procurement of a main contractor.
Cllr Theo Furness, Middlesbrough Council’s executive member for development, said: “The Old Town Hall is one of the real icons of Middlesbrough’s history and heritage, and I’m delighted to see it being brought back into use.
“It’s been a key feature of the town’s skyline for 180 years, and these ambitious plans will ensure it continues to play an important role in the life of the town for many decades to come.
“The Old Town Hall is both a potent symbol of Middlesbrough’s industrial heyday, and of the boundless ambition and aspiration we have for the future.”
Paul Hammerton, managing director at Walter Thompson, said: “Bringing a building of this significance back into use is about more than construction, it’s about respecting its history while ensuring it has a sustainable future for generations to come.
“We’re looking forward to working closely with Middlesbrough Council and the wider project team to see the Old Town Hall come back to life.”
Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke added: “St Hilda’s was Middlesbrough’s historic heart, and saw our town play a pivotal role in the Industrial Revolution.
“The Old Town Hall survives as a reminder of Middlesbrough’s incredible origins, and its influence will continue as a striking focal point of modern-day Middlehaven.
“This is a year of real progress for Middlesbrough and we’ll be making further announcements over the coming months.”
