PRESS RELEASE: WE NEED YOUR HELP
Local Property Developer and Northern Powergrid Dispute Causes Months of Delay for The Auxiliary.
A local arts & community organisation in Middlesbrough has faced almost eight months of disruption and delays in completing their building work and reopening for Teesside residents due to a lack of access to power supply. Access to The Northern Powergrid substation, located in a private carpark on Station Street in Middlesbrough, has been continually blocked since August 2025, causing thousands of pounds in loss of earnings and preventing the organisation from re-opening a cultural and community venue in the town.
Northern Powergrid’s substation, located in a private carpark, has been blocked on three separate occasions between August 2025 and April 2026, due to the actions of the landowner, despite negotiations with Northern Powergrid, with The Auxiliary absorbing the impacts of delayed supply.
Over the past two years, The Auxiliary Project Space has been undertaking a major redevelopment of its building, with the aim of creating a welcoming, accessible space for community arts activity, learning, and public engagement. The Auxiliary attracts over 30,000 people to Teesside each year and is supported by Arts Council England (ACE), Middlesbrough Development Corporation (MDC), Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA), and Middlesbrough Council (MBC).
In August 2025, as the organisation reached the final stages of reopening, the connection of the electricity supply to the building was blocked, the first of three incidents causing risk to workers. On every occasion, these interruptions were accompanied by intimidating behaviour, creating significant concern for staff. Northern Powergrid’s timeline in forcing actions for this have extended for almost eight months, leaving The Auxiliary in a vulnerable and precarious position.
These disruptions have had a direct and serious impact on The Auxiliary’s ability to operate and open its building for studios, exhibitions, workshops, events, and gigs. As well as the impact on artists and team members, planned work with local community groups, children and young people has had to be paused, and scheduled activity has been cancelled.
Company Director Liam Slevin says
‘I just don’t understand the behaviour, we all want Middlesbrough to grow and be a better place to live and work, but our so called neighbour seems to want the opposite’
The Auxiliary Project Space exists to support local artists, provide creative opportunities for residents, and contribute positively to Middlesbrough’s cultural life. The current situation undermines not only the organisation’s work, but also the public investment made into the project and the communities it serves.
The organisation is actively seeking a resolution that will allow it to resume work safely and reliably, and to open the redeveloped venue as soon as possible. The Auxiliary Project Space remains committed to transparency and to working in the best interests of its community.
We are now asking YOU, our friends, supporters and artists to support us in this so that we can finally reopen our building, The Auxiliary Project Space.
For those who are Middlesbrough residents, please send an email to Andy McDonald, Labour MP for Middlesbrough.
For those who are outside of Middlesbrough please send an email to Northern Powergrid. You will find email templates ready to send on the buttons below with the email addresses included, you just need to add your name and click send.
