Mills Advertising

THE businessman behind multi-million pound proposals to develop the site of a derelict town centre building says he remains committed to the project - despite it being rejected by the planning authority.

Mike Manders, of H&M Properties, wants to demolish and build anew on the site of The Rocket, a former student union building near Thornaby Railway Station and in the shadow of Thornaby’s historic town hall.

The property has stood empty for several years and has recently become the target of vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

However, Stockton Borough Council’s planning committee followed officers’ recommendation to reject Mr Manders’ plans to replace it with two student accommodation blocks to serve the University of Durham’s Stockton campus.

Councillors decided that the company had failed to demonstrate a proven need for the development in light of other similar proposals in the area.

“Naturally, we are very disappointed that our plans have been rejected,” said Mr Manders. “However, we still believe The Rocket site offers a fantastic opportunity for a high quality, contemporary development - one that would not only rid the area of an eyesore and return an important site to sustainable use, but could also help stimulate the regeneration of the wider Mandale area of Thornaby by giving other developers the confidence to proceed with their own plans. At the moment, everything seems to have ground to a halt.”

H&M Properties’ had wanted to provide accommodation for 197 students, incorporating communal facilities such as a lounge area, laundry, an Internet café-style bar and bistro, limited parking and landscaping. After initial concerns that the buildings could detract from the Grade II-listed town hall, the height of the nearest apartment block was lowered, the colour scheme toned down and a glass atrium-cum-stairwell was added, but to no avail.

Three other student accommodation schemes are being considered simultaneously by Stockton Borough Council - firstly, a further phase of development at Mandale, where there are already 385 student flats, secondly, on the site of the Supreme Knitwear building on the Mandale Triangle, and thirdly, a site off Prince Regent Street, in Stockton town centre.

Steve Hesmondhalgh, of DKS Architects, which designed The Rocket project, said that H&M Properties remained happy to listen to and work with planning officers to come up with an acceptable proposal for the site.

“We genuinely believe that the scheme we put forward offered a great opportunity to regenerate The Rocket site. Being close to the railway station, on a bus route and just a few minutes’ walk from the university, it could not be better positioned to serve the campus’s increasing student population.

“However, H&M Properties will not simply walk away and accept its plans are dead in the water, and are keen to reopen dialogue with Stockton Borough Council to come up with a development that meets everyone’s aspirations and expectations.”

Meanwhile, Mr Manders said that while uncertainty over The Rocket’s future remained, his company faced a constant battle to prevent the building being the target of vandalism and other undesirable behaviour.

He added: “The building has been broken into and set on fire, we’ve had to block off the car park to stop it being used by fly-tippers, and we have found evidence of squatters, drug-use and prostitution. We are concerned that the longer this debate continues, the worse the anti-social problems could get.”

For further information please contact Steve Hesmondhalgh on 01642 715763.

View PDF