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A former Barclays on Linthorpe Road is set to become home to new shops and student accommodation. Located on the corner of the pedestrianised Linthorpe Road and Blocklow Street, near the

A66, developers have been granted planning permission to sub-divide the ground floor of 11-13 Linthorpe Road into two retail units, along with alterations to the shopfront. A second floor

extension was also green lit and the upper floors of the building will be converted to provide 13 student bedrooms. Planning permission was granted by the Middlesbrough Development

Corporation (MDC), who are the planning authority for applications that are based in Middlesbrough town centre as well as much of Middlehaven. It was previously reported in 2023 that the

property was on the market. The officer report set out that the site has been vacant for more than 10 years. Historically, 11 and 13 Linthorpe Road were separate before becoming

interconnected. It is understood that the properties remain interconnected as planning permission from 2018 granting a divide has lapsed. Numerous revised schemes have been submitted during

this planning process, with the proposed number of student “pods” being reduced from 19 to 13. The site description and proposal explains that while the upper floors are set to be occupied

by students, the property would function as a house in multiple occupation (HMO) and therefore require a HMO licence. Each of the two ground floor retail units will include a staff

room/kitchenette, toilet and bin store. The existing shop entrance to 13 Linthorpe Road will remain whilst a new shop entrance will be created into 11 Linthorpe Road on the side of the

building. The first floor will see five bedrooms along with a laundry area and a communal space. The second floor will also see five bedrooms as well as a communal space whilst the attic

will host three bedrooms. All of the bedrooms will have a single bed. As part of the development being granted permission, 10 conditions must be met - one of which relates to cycle parking.

The application form details that six cycle spaces are set to be made as part of the development and the decision notice sets out that development cannot begin until “details of covered and

secure cycle parking have been submitted to and approved” by MDC. Additionally, a pick up and drop off plan is also a requirement, with particular emphasis on the beginning and end of terms,

as the 13 rooms will serve as student accommodation. The application site was deemed by planning officers to be "appropriate" for both retail and residential development, with the

works set to bring a “prominent vacant site” back into use. The reason for approval adds: “The conversion of the upper floors of the property to residential accommodation is not considered

to harm the principal function of the sector, nor impact the vitality and viability of the town centre.” Bedrooms are said to meet the minimum standards for HMOs as well as Middlesbrough

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