MIDDLESBROUGH Mayor Andy Preston has this morning unveiled plans for a £250m development, with the aim of making the town the digital hub of the UK.

Plans are being submitted today for Boho X – a skyscraper, business base, digital hub and workplace for up to 1,000 people as well to two residential skyscrapers featuring 120 apartments.

Boho X will be the part of a £45m first phase of the development and, standing at 260ft it will be the tallest building between Leeds and Glasgow.

Some £30m is already in the bank for the project, with a number of businesses already signed up for the office space. The aim is to start building in August and be open in 2022.

The Northern Echo: An artist's impression of Boho XAn artist's impression of Boho X

The buildings will include a roof terrace, with panoramic views across Teesside, an in-house cinema, a community farm built in an urban environment, a helipad, lecture theatre and gym.

Office space will be available for businesses from one person to 300.

Mayor Preston stated the aim is for the development to be designed and built by local companies. “We hope to give every scrap of the design and build to local businesses,’’ he said, in announcing the project at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium.

“I’ve never been so moved in all my life for this to be a success. All is needed is planning application and the will to succeed.’’

He added: “This will be a digital skyscraper on the very site where Middlesbrough grew the famous Ironopolis.

“Thanks mainly to funding from Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen and the combined authority, £30m is now in the bank for a world-class digital building that, along with private investment for residential skyscrapers, represents the biggest ever single investment in Middlesbrough.’’

The first organisations to commit to taking space in Boho X are Middlesbrough College, Northern Stable, Logic Architecture and the Endeavour Partnership.’’