Councillors vote to buy town centre for £13m

5 hours ago

Peter Harris,North East and Cumbria correspondentand

Gareth Lightfoot,Local Democracy Reporting Service

Members of Stockton Council have approved a plan to buy and regenerate parts of Billingham town centre

Stockton Council A drone shot view of Billingham. A relatively sparse town centre sees main roads cutting through a urban area complete with high-rise buildings, residential housing, and fields. In the distance, smoke stacks rise from industrial plants. — Members of Stockton Council have approved a plan to buy and regenerate parts of Billingham town centre

Councillors have voted to buy parts of a "run down" town centre for £13m.

Members of Stockton Council approved a plan to buy areas of Billingham from private owner Sheet Anchor Evolve (SAE), with a view to revamping the town centre including demolishing the vacant Queensway South building and the former library.

Councillor Paul Rowling said there were risks and opportunities with the project, but an overarching concern was that without "taking back control" nothing would change. SAE declined to comment at this stage.

The council valued the land and buildings at £10.75m, but it was felt meeting the asking price of £13m would allow work to move forward.

A council report said "all-encompassing" public sector intervention was needed to "reinvigorate and rejuvenate the town centre", improve its appearance, bring in more people and investment and instil pride in the area.

It said the local authority considered factors including income, risks, legal advice and value for money in meeting SAE's asking price.

The report said: "The estimated overall cost of acquiring Billingham town centre and undertaking a programme of securing vacant possession for demolition, repair and regeneration works is approximately £30m."

It also said the council wanted to "develop a scheme to rationalise and shore up retail provision and develop other uses for the town centre".

Councillor Paul Rowling said Billingham town centre had formerly been the "beating heart" of the area

Billingham town centre. There are rows of empty former shops which have their shutters down. There is a central circular shelter which is painted blue. — Councillor Paul Rowling said Billingham town centre had formerly been the "beating heart" of the area

The council will use some of a £20m government grant to buy the land and draw up a full business case.

It will also use £10m of Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) funding for a second phase of regeneration.

Rowling said the town centre was "quite run down" and the government funding needed to be spent by March 2028, "so this is very much the only game in town if we want to do it".

He also claimed successive private owners had failed to invest in the town centre which had formerly been the "beating heart" of the area.

Labour MP for Stockton North Chris McDonald added: "There are challenges ahead and nobody should pretend that transforming a town centre of this scale will happen overnight.

"But taking control gives us the ability to tackle the derelict buildings, invest and start shaping a completely new future for the centre and for Billingham."

Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram and listen to Radio Tees on BBC Sounds.