One Stop plans to open new store at Tollesby apartment complex

A convenience store has submitted a licencing application for a new shop at an apartment complex in Tollesby that is under construction.

One Stop has submitted the application to Middlesbrough Council for its upcoming branch at Newgate Court, the site of the former Tollesby shops.

Middlesbrough Development Company acquired the shops after they deteriorated over many years and they have since been demolished to make way for new apartments.

Prior to the shops being torn down, the council said that they had become a ‘magnet for crime, vandalism and anti-social behaviour’.

The new apartments, where construction work has started, will include five ground-floor retail spots with the upper floors providing 24 one and two-bedroom flats.

There will also be a communal outdoor space on the third floor which will be open to residents and parking for customers at the shops and people who live in the building.

It is projected that the building work will take 56 weeks and it is expected to be finished by summer 2022.

In June 2021, Middlesbrough Council’s executive member for regeneration Cllr Eric Polano said that total costs for the development had increased by £700,000.

The original estimate for the shops was £4.98m – the further costs were put down to rising labour and material costs.

In an attempt to prevent crime, the shop will install a comprehensive CCTV system, with cameras at entrances and exits capturing people’s faces.

During opening hours, there will be a staff member on-site who can use the CCTV system and will be able to show the police any relevant footage.

There will also be a refusals log where the shop will record when it has challenged and declined sales.

One Stop has more than 900 shops in the UK with eight stores across Middlesbrough.