Middlesbrough Council has given permission for the installation of a rear extraction flue at a ground-floor unit in Newbridge Court, Acklam, paving the way for a new independent restaurant to open in what has been an unoccupied retail space since the building was completed.
Vacant unit to be repurposed
The unit, which forms part of the Newbridge Court development off Rievaulx Drive, has been vacant since construction. A change-of-use application submitted earlier this year sought to convert the retail premises into a restaurant, and council planning officers have determined that the new use is permissible under existing permitted development rules. With the flue now approved, the applicant can proceed to fit out and operate as a hospitality venue.
Local amenities and parking
Newbridge Court combines residential apartments above with retail units at street level. The site’s anchor tenant is One Stop, and the neighbouring unit houses Barber House. The council’s highways team did not object to the proposals; officers noted that the original consent for the development provided parking alongside homes and businesses.
| Element | Number |
|---|---|
| Apartments | 24 |
| Retail units | 4 |
| Total parking spaces | 43 |
| Parking for retail | 19 |
| Parking for residents | 24 |
Planning assessment and neighbourhood response
As part of the application process the council carried out a neighbour consultation; no comments were recorded. Officers concluded that the proposal was acceptable in terms of design and in its effect on the surrounding area, including residents’ amenity.
“The proposal is considered appropriate in relation to design, impact on the character and appearance and on the amenity of residents.”
For local residents and traders, the change will remove an empty commercial unit and potentially bring footfall into the Tollesby precinct. The council currently advertises the remaining retail spaces as immediately available and highlights on-site parking as a selling point.
- Approval allows fit-out and operation of a restaurant at Newbridge Court.
- No objections from highways; neighbour consultation produced no comments.
- Decision supports reactivating a long-empty retail unit in Acklam.
The move is modest but material for the immediate area: conversion of unused retail to food and drink premises is one way local authorities and landlords elsewhere have sought to revive small precincts. Exact details on the operator or opening date were not disclosed in the council papers.
