A COUNCIL has secured planning permission to build 500 homes and a new leisure facility in 2022.

Middlesbrough Council has undertaken the next step to securing planning permission for 500 homes at St Hilda’s.

The council has submitted a request to find out whether it will need to complete an Environmental Impact Assessment for the development, which considers whether a project will have a significant effect on the environment.

An outline application, that seeks permission for the principle of the project, but not the actual details, has already been lodged, however full planning permission will need to be secured.

According to planning documents, up to 500 homes will be built, along with 1,000sqm of non-residential space which could be made up of office or leisure space.

There will also be a temporary car park and electricity sub-stations installed at the site.

The report that is submitted alongside the request believes that there would be no significant impact on the environment from the development.

Work to begin preparing the site for the new homes is expected to start in early 2022.

Read more: Tattoo artists scoop multiple awards at two separate beauty award nights

This is all part of Middlesbrough Council’s wider plans to transform ‘over the border’ with a combination of homes, offices, education sites, and leisure spaces.

The St Hilda’s area will be predominantly houses, with a range of options including family homes and apartments.

To the south of St Hilda’s there will be flexible workspaces, studios, and galleries.

The digital and creative hub will be home to different styles of offices, small workshops, cultural venues, housing for young professionals, and independent cafes.

There are also plans to refurbish the Old Town Hall and there are hopes that the market square will flourish as an event space with local shops.

The council will be spending £1m of its £22m Towns Fund allocation from the government to renovate the Old Town Hall and the nearby Captain Cook Pub.

The education quarter will see a nursery, secondary school, and Middlesbrough College all on the site, with plans for further education, science, health, sport, and community facilities.

Middlehaven Docks will also house a new venue, though it has not been confirmed what that will be.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated Teesside Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054