The Historic Quarter was made a conservation area in 1989 and centres around the Grade II-listed railway station, extending north towards Middlehaven and south towards the town centre. You can see a map of the whole Historic Quarter at the bottom of this page.

Once the commercial centre of Middlesbrough’s trade boom in the second half of the 19^th century, the area is one of our oldest urban areas with beautiful Victorian buildings.

Most visitors to Middlesbrough will travel through the Historic Quarter at some point. The improvements we're planning will help us to positively influence people’s impression of our town.

We want to make the Historic Quarter a more desirable place for businesses, visitors, investors and local people.

A package of interventions will be delivered, which include:

• Property improvement grants to bring eligible buildings back into use
• Upgrading Zetland Road and Exchange Square public spaces
• Community activities where people can learn about the area’s heritage, work together and learn new skills
• A cultural programme where local communities and cultural organisations can celebrate the area, and commission artists/creatives to make it a more attractive, engaging and vibrant place

By restoring buildings, improving public areas and involving local people in the project, we will ensure this key part of Middlesbrough’s history can survive – and thrive – well into the future.

The Middlesbrough High Street Heritage Action Zone boundary starts north of Albert Bridge around Gibson House and Plenary House on Cleveland Street. It includes all buildings on either side of Queens Square.

It goes west around Middlesbrough Railway Station then east down Brunswick Street. It also goes east around Middlesbrough Railway Station down to Zetland Place and around Teesside Archives, and through to Exchange Square.

From Brunswick Street and Exchange Square, the boundary runs south through Wilson Street to include the former Slam building, and through Albert Road from buildings 5-25 to the west, and 6 and 34-40 to the east of Albert Road.