New homes are music to the ears of residents

Broadacres has completed work on the £13 million redevelopment of an iconic former hotel and nightclub complex on Teesside.

And among the people living in the new homes on the site include two women who were regular visitors to the nightclub when it attracted some of the biggest pop stars and DJs of the time.

Broadacres, in partnership with its contractor Esh Construction, has built 114 homes on the footprint of the former Tall Trees Hotel in Yarm.

The site has been transformed into a mixed tenure development of two, three and four-bedroom homes, with the majority of the homes being affordable, either via social rent or shared ownership, which gives people a chance to get their first foot on the property ladder.

The total cost of the development is £13.2 million which includes grant funding of £3,373,500 from Homes England, the government’s housing and regeneration agency.

Tall Trees was one of the landmark venues of the 1980s and 1990, with guests including former Prime Minister John Major. Many of the world’s top stars of the day also performed in its adjoining nightclub, known as Macmillans, or Club M. They include pop acts such as Chesney Hawkes and Girls Aloud to world-renowned DJ’s such as Pete Tong and Dave Pearce.

Among those who remember Tall Trees is Lyndsey Allen, who is now living in one of the two-bedroom rented properties with her five-year-old daughter Millie.

The 45-year-old says: “I am from Middlesbrough originally and used to go to Tall Trees in the 90s, so when I heard about the homes I applied and was so happy when I discovered I had been allocated one.

“It’s a lovely home and the perfect size for myself and Millie, plus it’s very affordable, so we couldn’t be happier.”

Another who used to go to Tall Trees is Angela McGlade, who is living in one of three-bedroom shared properties. Angela bought 25% of her property and pays rent on the rest.

“Because of my person circumstances I couldn’t afford to buy a home outright, so I looked at these and even when you add up what I pay for rent and mortgage, it’s still a lot less than if rented privately,” she says.

“And I have the opportunity to increase the percentage I own in this property and my aim is to buy it outright so it couldn’t have worked out any better for me.”

Helen Fielding, Broadacres’ Director of Development and Investment, said: “Our Tall Trees development has provided a range of high-quality homes which meet the needs of a wide cross section of the local community, from people wanting affordable rented homes, through to those seeking low-cost home ownership options.

“And it’s lovely to hear of people like Lyndsey who have been able to make their home at a location which holds such happy memories.

“This is one of our largest schemes in recent years and we couldn’t have completed a development of this nature without the support of key partners like Esh Construction, Homes England and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.”

Tom Hawley, Head of Affordable Housing Growth from Homes England, said: “This scheme shows how effective the Affordable Homes Programme can be to invest in ambitious housing association partners like Broadacres to help them create new homes on brownfield sites in communities like Yarm that have high need for new homes like these.”

Councillor Nigel Cooke, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing said: “It’s brilliant to see the Tall Trees development complete and residents now enjoying their new homes.

“Good quality properties like the ones at Tall Trees mean that we can meet the demand for affordable housing in the Borough in convenient, safe locations close to schools, transport links and local amenities.

“We know the former hotel and club were close to local people’s hearts and I’m pleased to see the site repurposed into these homes, where I hope they will make many more happy memories.”

Mark Binns, Operations Director at Esh Construction, said: “Redeveloping the nostalgic Tall Trees site has proved a real success. A place that so many will hold fondly within their memories is now a welcoming neighbourhood with high quality homes where people can build new memories long into the future. It has been a pleasure to work in partnership with Broadacres and we look forward to working together again in the future.”

There are a handful of homes at Tall Trees still available for outright sale through Broadacres’ private development arm Mulberry Homes Yorkshire. People can visit www.mulberryhomesyorkshire.com

People have also started to move into Broadacres’ 49-home development in Sedbergh, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

The Association is building a mixture of two and three-bedroom houses and two-bedroom bungalows, as well as three four-bedroom and one five-bedroom home. Of the 49 homes built, 34 are for affordable rent and shared ownership, with people in Sedbergh and the surrounding communities being given first refusal on these properties. The remaining 15 homes are for open market sale.

And early in 2025, people will also begin moving into homes on a £19.5 million, 88-home development in Aiskew, near Bedale. All of the homes will be affordable with 49 for rent and 39 for shared ownership.