Who owns The Golden Eagle in Thornaby?

This year, proposals were finally green-lit to knock down the building, a key part of the town since the 1970s and hugely popular in its heyday. 

Council bosses said they had been working hard to resolve its complicated ownership arrangements behind the scenes to bulldoze the building, which has been subject to fires, vandalism, and fly-tipping incidents in recent years.

The Golden Eagle in Thornaby (Image: Stockton Borough Council)

Now, it looks like this could finally happen shortly as part of a £43 million regeneration package - with sights set on building a new swimming pool and gym. 

The complicated ownership arrangements of The Golden Eagle have often been a topic of discussion - so here’s how the situation looks now. 

Who owns The Golden Eagle?

In June, proposals to knock down the hotel were finally given the green light. 

This means Stockton Council will give up its complete ownership of the town centre, which includes the dilapidated Golden Eagle building. 

Urban explorers went inside The Golden Eagle earlier this year (Image: LOST IN TIME URBEX)

The long-term plan is to sell the town centre freehold to LCP Proudreed, which effectively owns the centre due to a 150-year lease that has 143 years unexpired. 

This would take place once the site is cleared and planning consent is secured.

Progress was made in seeking control of the former hotel after the council reached an agreement to acquire the two leasehold interests. 

As part of the negotiations to unlock the site, the council agreed to give up the freehold at the request of LCP Proudreed. 

What happens next? 

The council had previously approved the construction of a new swimming pool at the site of the former Phoenix House, which was acquired in 2022 before being bulldozed last summer.

Plans are in place to transform Thornaby town centre (Image: STOCKTON COUNCIL)

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Thornaby Pool will be closed and demolished for a new proposed five-lane pool and gym, which would have a new entrance and link to the Pavillion Shopping Centre. 

The planned gym has already been endorsed by the Town Deal Board and a previously approved £4.5million will be allocated to support this facility.

The board - made up of a range of local stakeholders including Thornaby councillors - identified tackling long-term vacant properties in the town to create new opportunities for development, as part of £23.9million funding.