Drive-thru plan for land of Golden Eagle in Thornaby refused

The Golden Eagle, on Trenchard Avenue in Thornaby, is currently being reduced to rubble after years of standing derelict in the town centre. 

And back in May, it was revealed that discussions were underway for two firms to move onto the land in the form of new drive-thrus once the building is demolished. 

Town centre owner LCP Proudreed submitted plans to build 204.4m² and 167.2m² units on the land along with 40 parking spaces and some green landscaping.

But the bid was last week refused by Stockton Borough Council.

The Golden Eagle in Thornaby (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

The authority raised concerns that the new drive thrus could “increase and exacerbate” existing issues of crime and anti-social behaviour in the area. 

It said that the development could have the potential to “materially undermine the wellbeing and sense of security of nearby residents, visitors and users of the district centre”.

The council also argued that the development would be “physically and functionally detached” from the wider centre and could “diminish its cohesion and sense of place”. 

The news comes as major demolition work continues on the 1960s built hotel.

The Eagle has been shuttered for several years and is understood to have been run as a pub on the ground floor until the mid to late 2010s. 

Works ongoing inside the Golden Eagle hotel in Thornaby (Image: STOCKTON BOROUGH COUNCIL)

Before that, the site operated as a bar and hotel, the venue often hosted wedding receptions, birthday parties, and Christmas work parties over its decades-long run. 

The council took control of the hotel in October 2024.

The demolition has been years in the making and has been pushed back several times after damage was caused by a string of break-ins and blazes. 

Last year, all items in the building were branded as hazardous material after vandals removed copper piping, which was protected by asbestos-riddled panels, causing a water leak. 

The damage cost £600,000. 

It is hoped that the Golden Eagle could be fully torn down by this autumn.

Work is also underway next door on Thornaby’s new £14million leisure facility, which will be home to a five-lane swimming pool, gym, sauna and changing rooms.