Plans to Convert Teesside 'Institution' into Place of Worship

A former Teesside "institution" could be transformed into a place of worship. Proposals have been submitted to Middlesbrough Council for the former Norman Baum’s Regency Suite, located on Kings Road in North Ormesby. The planning department is now considering whether to approve the idea.

If the plans are accepted, the building will be open from 9am to 5pm on weekdays. On Saturdays, Sundays, and bank holidays, the opening hours will remain at 9am but will close later at 7:30pm. A separate document indicates that the building will also be open until 11pm on the last Friday of each month.

The applicant is seeking a "change of use" for the property, with work limited to "minor internal alterations." According to supporting documents, the building dates back to the late Victorian period (around 1871) and was part of North Ormesby’s "historic commercial core." Historical records suggest that the building has long been associated with communal and assembly uses typical of the era.

In more recent years, the building operated as a restaurant known as Norman Baum’s Regency Suite. It underwent a four-month refurbishment in 2017, including updates to its function room and carvery. However, according to the documents submitted to the local planning authority, the establishment has since closed. The exact date of closure is unclear, but the phone number listed on their social media profiles is no longer active.

The proposal aims to retain as much of the internal layout as possible. Comments from the applicant state: “The proposal will help secure the long-term, active use of a large building that has significance to many in North Ormesby.”

Access arrangements will remain unchanged, with the main entrance located through the foyer on Kings Mews W. There are stairs and a lift leading to the “main spaces” on the first floor. Diagrams included in the application show limited space on the ground floor, as most of the available area is occupied by neighbouring commercial properties accessible from Kings Road.

The diagrams also indicate that certain areas will maintain their original functions, such as the toilets. Other sections will be repurposed. For example, the main open plan area on the first floor will become an adult church, while two storage rooms on the second floor will be converted into a kids church and a teens church. The bar will be transformed into a sound technical room.

The building can be accessed by foot, car, or public transport. Traffic levels are expected to remain similar to when the site operated as a restaurant.

In concluding remarks, the proposal highlights the potential for a new lease of life for the building. It states: “The proposed change of use represents a sympathetic and sustainable re-use of a long-established community building. The use as a place of worship is consistent with the building’s historic role as a space for communal assembly and will secure its continued occupation with only minimal internal alteration.”

The proposal is considered appropriate to its context and is not expected to cause any adverse impacts regarding access or amenity.