Long-neglected building sparks neighbours' fears

Vancouver House was on the market in 2023 but its vendors said there was little interest

A neglected and mostly derelict building is becoming a magnet for anti-social behaviour, according to neighbours.

Awaiting regeneration by developer Amar Mehli, Middlesbrough's Vancouver House has been broken into repeatedly by vandals, drug users and homeless people seeking shelter.

One neighbour said: "It's scary living next door to this. Residents constantly feel unsafe and on edge waiting to see what's going to happen there next."

Mr Mehli said his redevelopment project had been hindered by funding issues and planning delays, adding he had tried repeatedly to tighten security.

"I've secured the building many times but they keep smashing their way in," Mr Mehli said, adding that some trespassers had turned down his offers of a safer place to stay.

"They're carrying round grinders. I put steel doors in and they've pulled them down and they've ground down locks."

The London-based property developer said he believed problems around the building had been resolved in recent weeks, though this was disputed by neighbours.

One man said people know how to evade the authorities and they return to the six-storey building "whenever they want".

He said a deliberately-set fire in the property earlier this year suggested there could be a risk to life if problems were not adequately addressed.

Cleveland Police, Middlesbrough Council and Cleveland Fire Brigade said they had been working together to tackle issues at Vancouver House and were committed to working with the landlord.

'Eternal optimist'

Middlesbrough Council sold the building five years ago for £822,000 and last year Mr Mehli attempted to sell it for £2.9m.

However, there was little interest from potential buyers.

This week he told the BBC he was an "eternal optimist" and committed to the redevelopment project incorporating a 200-room hotel, gym and shops, which he hoped will start to progress later this year.

But it has been delayed due to the impact of the pandemic, high inflation, funding issues and difficulties in meeting planning conditions, Mr Mehli said.

"We're going to regenerate it, but we can't just show up and start," he added.

"We've got to get through the planning process and the problems associated with it."

Mr Mehli is hoping the creation of the Middlesbrough Development Corporation, which now has planning authority for parts of the town centre, will help speed up the process.