A state-of-the-art project to make Teesside one of country’s “digital business capitals” is being extended after receiving more than £4m in British and European grants.
The Boho Five building at Middlehaven is the latest addition to Middlesbrough’s DigitalCityBusiness (DCB) development and is being jointly financed by money from the European Regional Development Fund Competitive Programme and the Government-backed Homes and Communities Agency.
When complete the six-storey office and high-tech hub will provide accommodation for a wide range of digital and creative start-ups and established businesses. “It will be a high quality, innovative building reflecting the aspirations of the digital sector and designed in a way to foster increased interaction and collaboration between its occupiers,” explained Tim Bailey, a partner with construction design managers Xsite Architecture.
“The building has been conceived to provide small, flexible ‘incubation’ space for start-up businesses which will then grow and expand to occupy space in other publicly or privately owned buildings within the area, continuing with the positive redevelopment in this area,” he added.
Bailey’s company has been involved in the Boho Zone scheme from its inception in 2005, and believes this latest development will build on its already established nationwide reputation for innovation and quality.
Part of the biggest regeneration project in the North-East, several key elements of Middlehaven’s high-tech BoHo Zone have already been delivered, among them the £10m Boho One headquarters building and the £4m BoHo houses, designed as live-work studios to combine both work space and living quarters for digital entrepreneurs.
Boho Four occupies the restored 1872-built Gibson House and provides Grade A office space and work will start later this year on revamping Corporation House. “It is the digital media, digital technologies and creative industries quarter like no other — a radical, beautiful combination of refurbished Victorian buildings and stunning new design,” claims the zone’s web site.
The entire 25-acre Middlehaven scheme is being delivered by Middlesborough Council with the BoHo sector developed by its wholly-owned subsidiary, DigitalCityBusiness (DCB).
“We are very pleased to see work starting on this next phase of the Boho Zone which forms a key strand of our regeneration strategy,” said the town’s deputy mayor, Dave Budd.
“Boho Five will be fully integrated with the management arrangements for Boho One, to provide a seamless offer to cluster companies and potential entrepreneurs, supported directly by DCB,” the councillor explained. “This is a thriving sector and we are confident of Boho Five’s ability to further transform Middlesbrough’s digital economy.”
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