Exciting next steps for transformation of Thornaby to be considered

Plans to meet the Council and Thornaby Town Deal Board's long held ambitions to take control of The Golden Eagle hotel are to be decided.

Next month, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council Cabinet is set to consider the Council acquiring the building's two leasehold interests so that the building can be demolished to make way for the development of the site using funding from Thornaby Town Deal.

The Council is the current freeholder of Thornaby Town Centre. The long term plan is for the Council to sell its entire Freehold, including The Golden Eagle site to the long lease holder, Proudreed, once the site is cleared and they have secured planning consent for redevelopment of the site. 

Plans are also under way to create a modern, fit-for-purpose, five lane swimming pool and gym next to the Phoenix House site, linked to the Pavilion leisure centre.

This follows the Council taking control of the vacant Phoenix House site in January 2022 and demolishing it last summer.

The new leisure facility would include gym changing facilities on the first floor, as well as a new entrance, public realm improvements and enhanced parking.

The opportunity to include new gym provision has been endorsed by the Town Deal Board and subject to Cabinet agreement, a previously approved £4.5million will be allocated to support this quality facility.

Tackling long term vacant properties in Thornaby town centre to create opportunities for new development is one of the areas that the Town Deal Board identified as a priority for the £23.9million of Town Deal funding.

The Town Deal Board is made up of a range of local stakeholders from public and private sector bodies, including Thornaby councillors and the MP for Stockton South.

Councillor Nigel Cooke, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing at Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, said: "It's really important that all of the Borough's town centres are vibrant and economically successful so they attract investment and are fit for future generations. By taking control of the Golden Eagle we can really start to bring this ambition to life in Thornaby.

"The building is a huge eyesore that has blighted Thornaby Town Centre for a number of years and we know that residents and businesses are keen to be rid of it as it does not represent the town's aspirations or future.

"The Golden Eagle has stood in the way of unlocking further development in Thornaby and subject to Cabinet approval, I am looking forward to seeing how this site progresses.

Mark White CBE DL, Chair of the Thornaby Town Deal Board, said: "If agreed, this will be an extremely positive step towards securing long-term change and investment in Thornaby and I am absolutely delighted by this news.

"The resolution of The Golden Eagle issue is testament to the hard, collaborative work of all Town Deal Board members and I look forward to seeing the redevelopment of this town centre prime site."

If approved, a planning application for the building's demolition would be submitted in Autumn, with demolition expected to begin before the end of the year.

Construction on the new swimming pool is expected to begin in spring next year, subject to planning approval.

Meanwhile, the creation of a new purpose built training facility for NETA as part of a redeveloped Stockton Riverside College site are continuing to progress. Subject to planning approval, work will start this summer and be complete by autumn 2025.

Find out more information about how the Council is transforming Thornaby.