DERELICT buildings in Middlesbrough town centre could be turned into a multi-million pound hotel in a new scheme.

An application to convert the neighbouring Cook and Endeavour House office blocks on Albert Road has been submitted to Middlesbrough council.

Most of the 1970s buildings have been empty for nearly 20 years but there is now a plan to turn them into a joint 125-bed hotel.

The council has received the application from Alan Powell in Leeds and the idea is create a business class hotel which will also have shops on the ground floor and offices on the top floor.

The upper floor offices, which make up most of the buildings, have been vacant for more than 18 years but the ground floor retail units have only been vacant for a year.

A report from the applicants said: “This proposal provides an opportunity to bring a long-term redundant building back into use, playing an integral part in the town’s regeneration requirements and increase town centre hotel room offer.”

In the report the applicant says it is hoped the hotel will attract retailers to come forward and occupy the shop units, which would be refurbished by the developers.

The hotel would be a neighbour listed buildings right in the heart of the town, close to Middlesbrough Town Hall, public library and the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art gallery.

The developers say the new hotel would improve the historic area and the character of the nearby listed buildings would be respected. The buildings form part of the Cleveland Centre which opened in 1972.

Middlesbrough council’s planning committee will discuss the application by February 14.

The application is the latest of a number of schemes to build a new hotel in the centre of Middlesbrough in recent years.