Lingfield Farm: 200 year old vacant farmhouse razed to the ground

Lingfield Farm – which is owned by the council – was subject to demolition plans which the council submitted to itself last summer, but destruction went ahead prior to formal approval being granted “on the grounds of public safety”, according to the council.

Back in August last year, it was reported that plans had been submitted to tear down a farmhouse and associated buildings in Coulby Newham, with the council saying that the buildings had become structurally unsafe. Yet, on the decision date of Wednesday, February 11, it was published on the council’s planning portal that the proposals had been withdrawn.

Along with the farmhouse, which dates back to the late 18th/early 19th Century, the neighbouring barn (that is only slightly younger) and a countryside centre were all to be destroyed. Back in the summer, the council said that unauthorised access and antisocial behaviour were concerns, so much so that the site was securely fenced, with Heras panels installed to maintain a 10m exclusion zone around the unsafe buildings.

When asked what had occurred on the Lingfield Farm site, in respect of the withdrawal of the demolition plans, a Middlesbrough Council spokesman said: “The demolition of Lingfield Farm and its associated buildings was brought forward on the grounds of public safety. A serious deterioration of the buildings presented a significant risk of danger.” The demolition was carried out between November 24, 2025 and February 18, 2026. Workers will return to grass seed the site in April.

The application form, received by the council last August, explained how long each of the buildings had been vacant, with the farmhouse being unoccupied for more than 20 years. The application added: “The barn was previously used for storage but this became unsafe in 2019 and was no longer accessible. The countryside centre was formerly used as an alternative teaching provision, this became vacant in May 2025.”

Pre-application advice warned of the conservation and heritage perspective, as the buildings were considered to be a “rural survivor”, with the farmstead believed to pre-date 1850. As a consequence, a council officer warned that a case could be made for the site being a non-designated heritage asset and as a result, demolition could be resisted. However, this observation did not prevent the destruction of the farm.

When plans were submitted in 2025, the council argued that the post-demolition use would see a reinstated green space that will integrate with the existing play area, allotments and pond, while enhancing visual amenity and provide opportunity for future biodiversity enhancements.