The Community Garden Centre is a project funded by Middlesbrough Council's 'Empower' fund for local communities.
It was devised in response to a community consultation suggestion, as part of the Gresham Urban Eco Village initiative, which noted that despite the area having a rich history of gardening and growing, residents often struggled to access (in particular) compost, especially without transport.
Permission was sought from Newport Settlement Hub to site a shipping container on its grounds, and this was approved. A shipping container houses the Garden Centre, and opened its doors on 17th March 2020. The project aims to support a resident in the development of a small social enterprise, which should enable them to make a small income. It also offers residents the opportunity to buy and sell plants - again providing a small cash income.