A 348,000 sq ft shopping centre in Stockton-on-Tees is to be torn down and replaced with an urban park.
The council’s planning committee has given the go ahead to replace the Castlegate shopping centre, Swallow hotel and multi-storey car park with the park, plus around 160,000 sq ft of civic buildings.
The council bought the shopping centre in 2019 and put forward the proposals to tear it down as part of its regeneration plans for the town. It wants to address the oversupply of retail floorspace in the town centre and believes that the release of the circa 14-acre site will provide further redevelopment opportunities for the area.
Nigel Cooke, cabinet member for regeneration and housing at Stockton Borough Council, said: “It’s fantastic news that we have reached the position of outline planning approval. It’s a big step in our journey towards transforming all of our six town centres to ensure they are fit for the future. We are acting now to future-proof our town centres and ensure they are fit for future generations. The acquisitions we have made are an opportunity to lead meaningful change and provide facilities and spaces that bring communities together.”
Work is set to begin on the demolition of the site next year, with the redevelopment set to be completed by 2025.
Lichfields advised on planning; Ryder Architects designed the scheme.
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