Fresh proposals have been submitted to Stockton Council for the former police station site on Martinet Road, Thornaby, covering the main building and its associated garages.
What the application proposes
The scheme, lodged earlier this month by applicant Khawer Din with agent ELG Planning, seeks permission for a mix of units to be used for research and development, light industrial, storage or distribution. The plans include:
- retention of three existing police station buildings and outbuildings;
- conversion of one building into ancillary office accommodation (the same block that has a separate pending application to become a tattoo studio);
- construction of two new units — one sited between existing office and garage blocks and another adjacent to a pair of garages;
- installation of roller shutter doors and a standard personnel door, and replacement of an existing window.
In accompanying planning documentation, the agent states the new-build elements would be finished in materials that match the current buildings and argues the proposals would be compatible with the local area.
"The existing office is going to be retained as ancillary office accommodation, and the new-build part of the proposals would use suitable materials to match the existing buildings," the statement says.
Jobs and community impact
The developer describes both short-term and longer-term employment benefits: temporary roles during construction, and permanent positions once the units are occupied. The planning statement also suggests wider social and economic advantages, including increased business rates income and potential uplift in public transport use as people travel to work.
| Site | Proposed uses | Key changes |
|---|---|---|
| Former Martinet Road police station | R&D, industrial, storage, distribution, ancillary offices | Two new units; roller shutters; retained outbuildings |
Planning context and next steps
The application arrives while the council is separately considering a change-of-use request for one of the site’s units to become a tattoo studio, submitted in May by Mark Bester for four tattoo artists. The presence of multiple concurrent proposals means councillors will need to weigh how each use sits within the local planning framework and the character of the neighbourhood.
Residents and interested parties can inspect the planning documents via Stockton Council’s planning portal and submit comments before the authority reaches a decision.
On balance, the applicant contends the redevelopment represents a "highly sustainable form" of reuse for the brownfield site, seeking to make productive use of existing buildings while adding modest new floor space.
Further coverage will follow as the council publishes consultation responses and officer recommendations.
