Work has started on a £9million development that will deliver 40 brand new homes for affordable rent in the Thorntree area of Middlesbrough.
The scheme, led by housing provider Thirteen in partnership with developer RE:GEN, Middlesbrough Council and with funding support from Homes England, will bring much needed new homes to the community.
Once complete, the development will feature 39 high quality two-bedroom bungalows alongside one four-bedroom house, helping to meet growing demand for accessible and affordable homes in the area, particularly for customers seeking single-level living.
Homes are being built on the former site of the Fleet and Thorntree House high-rise blocks, next to Cargo Fleet Lane, which were demolished in 2025. Throughout the regeneration process, Thirteen has worked closely with residents and supported them to relocate to homes that meet their needs.
Thirteen’s chief executive officer, Matt Forrest, said: “It’s great to see work starting on this exciting development in Thorntree.
“The scheme is an important milestone in our regeneration work in Middlesbrough, helping to provide the homes that people need while improving communities with care and purpose. We’re investing well over £100million to replace old and low demand homes in the town, with hundreds of high-quality new builds like those at Kedward in Brambles Farm, Hillside Gardens in Grove Hill and the multi award-winning Union Village in Gresham.
“We’re very keen to do a lot more of this kind of housing renewal across our towns, alongside more redevelopment of brownfield sites, but the current national funding system makes it very difficult. It’s a particular issue in the North, where we have low land and property values and high site remediation costs, meaning many regeneration schemes are unviable without government funding.
“There’s a huge opportunity here – Tees Valley’s brownfield sites alone have capacity for nearly 9,000 new homes, which is why we’re joining calls for the government to provide additional funding to unlock that potential.”
Middlesbrough Mayor, Chris Cooke, said: “We know there’s a demand for this type of housing and it’s encouraging to see the early progress on site.
“Lots of people will remember the old tower blocks that once stood here. I’m looking forward to the new homes being a sign of progress for this area.”
CEO at RE:GEN Group, Lee Francis, said: "It's fantastic to see work now underway on this important development. Our long-standing partnership with Thirteen is built on a shared commitment to investing in communities, and this scheme is another example of what can be achieved when organisations work together with a common purpose.
“These high-quality, energy-efficient homes will help meet local housing need while supporting the wider regeneration of the area, and we're proud to play our part in delivering that legacy."
The new homes will be designed to meet modern standards, supporting comfortable, energy-efficient living for residents. Completion is expected in late summer 2027.