A MASTERPLAN is aiming to rejuvenate rundown parts of a town centre and reinvigorate empty properties.

In an attempt to kickstart regeneration plans for Middlesbrough's Albert Road area, the town's council has been working closely with developer Jomast which owns properties on the thoroughfare which links the train station to the town centre’s main shopping area.

Despite some recent developments and improvements, the local authority has accepted the road has declined over recent years, particularly the section between Corporation Road and Wilson Street.

And the council’s economic regeneration and transport scrutiny panel has been looking at how best to deal with empty properties and to examine how they can be brought back into use.

Among those who gave evidence to the panel was a representative of property development company Jomast which owns properties on Albert Road.

Commercial property director Mark Hill told the committee how some of the buildings were occupied by commercial businesses and others were empty. Those that were empty were to be refurbished and improved to attract a mix of businesses, including restaurants, cafes, coffee shops and independent retailers.

The company, which came to national attention over the red door furore involving refugee homes in the town, recently completed a £500,000 refurbishment of Sun Alliance House as well as improvement works on other properties, the committee heard.

Mr Hill said that further work will begin early in 2016 following the completion of the current ongoing redevelopment of Bedford Street.

Regeneration officers gave updates about a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for funding for public realm works, a bid for Enterprise Zone status and the ongoing work to resolve structural problems at the railway station.

As a result, the scrutiny panel has now put together its recommendations for the council’s executive to investigate.

The councillors added that assistance already available to businesses such as rate relief and incentives, grants and advice and support be communicated and that all possible sources of external funding and grants be explored.

For transport, it was recommended that the council continues discussions with Network Rail to secure any further mutual benefits that would result from improvements to the current condition of the station. Also that work be undertaken to explore improving car parking in the Albert Road area and to promote, cycling, walking and public transport.