Golden Eagle demolition begins in Thornaby after 470 tonnes of asbestos removed
Demolition of the former Golden Eagle hotel in Thornaby has begun, ending years of uncertainty over one of the town centre's most prominent derelict buildings.
Contractor MGL Demolition started work on 19 August, using small excavators to take down the roof and top floors of the six-storey structure from behind scaffolding. Once the upper floors are cleared the scaffolding will be removed and larger machinery brought in to demolish the ground and first floors.
A year of asbestos removal first
The demolition follows the removal of around 470 tonnes of asbestos and a full strip-out of the building, work that began in August 2025. The building had stood empty for several years and had been repeatedly targeted by arson and vandalism.
Mark Davison Jr, head of demolition at MGL Demolition, said the team had "worked tirelessly to remove around 470 tonnes of asbestos from the Golden Eagle" and that attention now turned to the safe demolition of the building.
Stockton Council leader Councillor Lisa Evans described the structure as an eyesore and the start of demolition as an important milestone for Thornaby. The work is expected to be complete in the autumn, with the eventual redevelopment of the site led by town centre owner Proudreed Real Estate Ltd.
The project sits within the Thornaby Town Deal, funded from £23.9m awarded in 2021, which also covers wider work in the town centre. On a separate Town Deal project the steel frame is now up, with partners joining contractor Galliford Try to sign a steel beam before it was sealed.
What it means locally
Dust suppression systems, noise monitoring and managed vehicle movements are in place to limit disruption to neighbouring town centre businesses.
Jobs of this type spread work well beyond the principal contractor. Licensed asbestos removal, temporary access and scaffolding, plant hire, hoarding, traffic management and segregated waste and skip handling are all typically subcontracted, and the volumes on a six-storey clearance are substantial.
The bigger opportunity for Teesside firms comes later. A cleared, remediated town centre site with a Town Deal behind it is a realistic prospect for regional building contractors once redevelopment proposals come forward, though no scheme for the site has yet been confirmed.