Crown Square Middlesbrough’s £200m Comeback Starts in Gresham

In the heart of Middlesbrough, where once dereliction cast a long shadow, something extraordinary is rising. It’s bold, it’s ambitious, and it has a name: Crown Square.

Unveiled to a buzzing crowd at the UK Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) in Leeds, this £200 million regeneration project is more than a property development, it’s a statement. A declaration that Middlesbrough’s time is now.

Set to deliver 1,500 new homes, create 4,000 jobs, and reignite pride in the town centre, Crown Square is the largest development Middlesbrough has seen in generations. And it’s not just bricks and mortar its purpose, it’s vision, it’s momentum.

From Forgotten to First Choice

Once overlooked, the Gresham area is being reimagined as the crown jewel of Middlesbrough. The name Crown Square isn’t just branding it signals a rebirth, a powerful symbol that this part of town is no longer being left behind.

Developers iMpeC and Buccleuch Property, working hand-in-hand with the Middlesbrough Development Corporation (MDC), have one mission: to create a vibrant, desirable, and future-proof urban quarter that attracts people to stay, work, and thrive.

The first phase includes a sleek new hotel due to open its doors by mid-2027 alongside homes and public spaces expected to be completed by early 2028. But this is just the beginning.

“This isn’t just about homes. It’s about creating a place people actually want to live in,” said iMpeC Director Neil McMillan. “A new lifestyle offers for the Tees Valley something to make a young graduate choose Middlesbrough over Leeds or Manchester.”

A Development That Feels Different

So what’s changed? Why is Crown Square succeeding where others have stalled?

The answer lies in vision, leadership, and relentless belief. When developers first heard Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen outline the MDC’s ambitions, something clicked.

“We could’ve invested anywhere in the country,” said Leigh Cresswell of iMpeC. “But what we saw here was different. We saw commitment, urgency, and a drive to get things done.”

And things are getting done. Crown Square’s first planning permission? Approved in just 10 weeks. That’s virtually unheard of for a project of this scale.

Tackling Tough Conversations Head-On

But the team isn’t shying away from Middlesbrough’s harder truths. One of the most frequently raised issues by locals and businesses? Safety.

“In 2025, people will still leave offices in groups because they’re nervous. That’s just not acceptable,” said McMillan. “We knew we had to deal with perception and reality.”

The solution? A multi-agency hub baked into the site design a visible, working space for police and public services to engage with the community in real time. A place where safety is built into the very foundations of the neighbourhood.

Not Just Gresham A Ripple Across Teesside

Crown Square isn’t a siloed effort. It’s a major piece in a wider puzzle of regeneration across the Tees Valley. From Captain Cook Square to STACK, the new Odeon Luxe to the Live Well Centre, Middlesbrough is undergoing a cultural and commercial rebirth.

Mayor Chris Cooke said it best:

“This scheme will deliver a town centre that is fit for the future. We’re building a Middlesbrough that works for everyone.”

Sandy Smith of Buccleuch Property echoes that sentiment:

“It’s not just about property. It’s about social impact. This development has the power to transform lives not just in Gresham, but across the region.”

And Now, It Begins

Hoardings go up this summer. Shovels hit the ground before year’s end. The hotel welcomes guests in 2027. And by 2028, Crown Square’s first phase will be a living, breathing part of the town, a place filled with energy, optimism, and community spirit.

As Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said at the launch:

“Middlesbrough has waited long enough. This is action. This is delivery. And it’s just the start.”

So whether you’re a young professional, a business owner, an investor, or someone who’s simply watched Middlesbrough’s story unfold, keep watching.

Because the crown is finally coming home.