The site of a former nightclub is now unrecognizable as a housing development is being built on the same dance floor that hosted several high-profile music acts.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, Yarm Tall Trees was the hottest live music venue in the North East, hosting acts such as Girls Aloud and attracting regulars such as Chesney Hawkes and John Major.

Since then, the club has been remembered as a “legendary” place where entertainment, music and culture come together.

Then:

The front of Tall Trees Yarm (Image: ARCHIVE)

The front of Tall Trees Yarm (Image: ARCHIVE)

Tall Trees Yarm after its decay (Image: ARCHIVE)

Girls Aloud perform at Tall Trees Yarm (Image: ARCHIVE)

Crowds at Tall Trees Yarm (Image: ARCHIVE)

Since the closure, several hundred people have been made unemployed; the venue has been demolished and houses built by several developers, including Mulberry and Avant, while Bede Homes is completing 21 properties on its Beck View site.

Although nothing remains of the Tall Trees site (including the bars, dance floor or arched front door), it has provided additional living space for Yarm.

As part of the ongoing development on the site, which has seen several of Bede’s 21 houses built and others nearing completion, The Northern Echo visited the “unrecognisable” Yarm Tall Trees site.

Now:

Bede Homes builds 21 houses (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Bede Homes is building 21 houses – here is the outside of one of the houses (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

The interior of one of the Bede houses (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

The first thing that strikes you is the sheer scale of development in this part of Yarm near the train station, where there are houses seemingly everywhere.

But Richard Buckley, director of Bede Homes, says it is not “overwhelming”.

He said: “The houses are spacious and not cramped like in other settlements.”

“Yarm needs bigger houses, so we are meeting the needs of the area.

“Yes, housing developments must be profitable, but they must also be livable for the families who choose this area.

Almost half of the 21 houses, which are for sale at prices up to £750,000, have already attracted interest from potential buyers.

And Mr Buckley has made it clear that further development on the site is “out of the question” as there is a stream next to some of the houses and the main road on the other side, giving people peace of mind that there will not be overdevelopment.

Most read:

Get more from the Northern Echo and stay up to date with a digital subscription. Click here to find out more.

Even though the Tall Trees location no longer exists, Mr Buckley remembers the club’s past.

He said: “If you ask anyone of a certain age about Tall Trees, they will be able to tell you all about it. It’s one of those places that is special to people growing up.”

“While it is something completely different to a nightclub and we hope to provide a luxury home for families, we can appreciate Tall Trees and the fact that it puts Yarm on the map.”