A firm of Tees Valley architects has beaten off stiff competition to win the right to design the marketing suite for Tees Valley Regeneration’s flagship Middlehaven development.

The announcement is the latest stage in the £200m transformation of the site which will see developer BioRegional Quintain create the UK’s most environmentally friendly mixed-use project.

Planning applications have already been submitted to Middlesbrough Borough Council for the first two buildings on the site, one by world renowned architect and site masterplanner Will Alsop and the second by award winning architects FAT.

They will be the first of nine futuristic ‘cube’ blocks on the site featuring a mixture of residential and commercial space and work on them is due to start later this year.

Earlier this year, Tees Valley Regeneration, BioRegional Quintain and CABE (the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) invited a selection of young architects from across the North East to submit designs for a show apartment and marketing suite.

Now Stokesley-based DKS Architects’ unique design for a cluster of linked cube-shaped buildings has been chosen as the preferred scheme.

DKS is now working closely with BioRegional Quintain to develop the design through to completion, with plans due to be submitted to Middlesbrough Council this week.

To ensure the £250,000 suite is completed and operational before the first cube building is constructed, DKS is working on a fast-track programme to ensure the planning, building regulations and procurement processes are all complete to enable work to begin on site at the end of this summer.

Speaking about his first competition success since becoming a partner at DKS, Mark Barlow said: “This was a great opportunity for all of the invited practices to

demonstrate that there is a wealth of design talent located in the north east region.

“We are thrilled that we have been selected to develop the design for this iconic building on the basis of the ideas we put forward in the competition.

“This represents a fantastic opportunity for DKS to showcase its design strengths further and contribute to BioRegional Quintain’s vision to deliver a high profile sustainable community on this site.”

Pete Halsall, managing director of BioRegional Quintain, praised Mark’s design saying: “In the early stages those involved in the planning of Middlehaven have been internationally recognised names in the field of urban regeneration.

“But we were also keen to involve local businesses in the project and give them a chance to participate, so we initiated a design competition for local architects under 40 years of age.

“DKS produced the best and most appropriate idea for a marketing suite

consistent with the vision of the project in terms of design and sustainability.

“Mark has captured the essence of the place and we are sure that his marketing suite will excite and enthuse prospective buyers about the experiences living at Middlehaven will bring.”

Joe Docherty, chief executive of Tees Valley Regeneration, said: “Our vision of a world class development at Middlehaven is taking shape, and the detailed images of the first two cubes have shown just how ambitious those plans are.

“The marketing suite and show apartment will give people a further insight into what life will be like at Middlehaven, and I’m delighted that a local firm should be the one chosen to realise that vision.”