Housing estate progress on site of former Tall Trees Yarm

During the 1990s and early '00s, Yarm Tall Trees was 'the place to be' when it came to live music in the North East, as Girls Aloud among others played there - and the venue called the likes of Chesney Hawkes and John Major regulars.

In true form, the club has been remembered since that time as a 'legendary' place where entertainment, music and culture shared a common theme. 

Then:

The front of Tall Trees Yarm (Image: ARCHIVE) The front of Tall Trees Yarm (Image: ARCHIVE) Tall Trees Yarm after it was in disrepair (Image: ARCHIVE) Girls Aloud perform at Tall Trees Yarm (Image: ARCHIVE) Crowds of people at Tall Trees Yarm (Image: ARCHIVE)

Since closing down, and leaving several hundred people without a job, the venue has been demolished, and houses have been built by several housebuilders, including Mulberry and Avant, while Bede Homes are finishing off 21 properties on its Beck View site.

While there is nothing left of the Tall Trees site, including the bars, dancefloor or arching front door, it has provided Yarm with further housing. 

As part of the continued development on the site, which has seen several of the 21 homes by Bede built, and others nearing completion, The Northern Echo visited the 'unrecognisable' Yarm Tall Trees site. 

Now:

Bede Homes are building 21 houses (Image: NORTHERN ECHO) Bede Homes are building 21 houses - this is the outside of one of the houses (Image: NORTHERN ECHO) The inside of one of the Bede homes properties (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

The first thing you notice is the sheer scale of development in this part of Yarm, near the train station, which seems to have houses wherever you look. 

But, as director of Bede Homes, Richard Buckley it doesn't feel 'overwhelming".

He said: "The houses are made to be spacious and not cramped in like other estates. 

"Yarm needs bigger houses, so we're fulfilling the need of the area.

"Yes, housing developments need to make a profit, but they also need to be liveable for families that choose this estate. 

Already, almost half of the 21 houses, which are selling for prices up to £750,000, have interest on them from potential buyers.

And Mr Buckley has made clear that further development on the site is "out of the question", given that there is a beck next to some of the houses, and the main road on the other side; giving people peace of mind about overdevelopment. 

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While the Tall Trees site might not be there any more, Mr Buckley remembers the past of the club.

He said: "If you ask anyone of a certain age about Tall Trees - they'll be able to tell you all about it. It's one of those places that's special to people growing up. 

"While it's completely different from a nightclub, and we hope to provide luxury homes for families, we can appreciate Tall Trees and it putting Yarm on the map."