Art gallery plans for former jewellery store

The store unit and the floors above are set to be transformed

A former jewellery shop in a town centre is set to become an art gallery.

Renovations of the vacant H. Samuel store on Linthorpe Road in Middlesbrough are expected to start early next year.

Anna Byrne, from Creative Factory Middlesbrough, which is behind the plans, said the idea was to have a window gallery and a public-facing space, which could be hired for workshops and events.

The other two floors of the building will also be transformed into studio and office spaces.

The project is part of the Creative Factory initiative, which aims to provide long-term sustainability and investment for the cultural and creative sector, along with an ambition to develop 50,000 sq ft of "creative space", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A council scrutiny committee heard some other buildings had been acquired as part of the scheme, including residential properties on Princes Road, which will become four one-bed apartments.

"What we're looking at is three long-term tenants, that want live-work space and then we'll keep one of the other apartments for visiting artists and as a kind of community space," Ms Byrne said.

She added it was hoped the first tenants would be in by March.

Gaye Kirby, head of culture at Middlesbrough Council, said the creative sector was already "really well embedded" throughout the town.