Delays to town's £20m redevelopment project

A computer-generated image of Billingham town centre following proposed development.Image source, LDRS
Image caption,

A computer-generated image of how Billingham town centre might look after redevelopment

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Almost two years after a town was granted £20m of Levelling Up funding, work to demolish a shopping precinct and build new homes has not begun.

The funding for Billingham was announced in November 2023 and confirmed by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in 2024's autumn Budget.

Evolve Estates successfully applied for planning permission in March to pull down the West Precinct, the Kingsway West multi-storey car park and buildings on Queensway.

Stockton Borough Council said it was committed to supporting the redevelopment of the town centre alongside the current owners.

A funding agreement to formalise the funding was not received until April, a council spokesperson said.

"In recent months, Evolve has been liaising with affected businesses in advance of finalising all legal documentation, which will enable the council to purchase part of the town centre and begin the redevelopment of some of its key sites to secure its long-term future."

In its planning statement, Evolve said the demolition of "largely vacant, tired and dated buildings" would pave the way for a "more attractive, modern and fit-for-purpose" town centre in Billingham.

West Precinct is a large, concrete Brutalist-style building. Pictured are two businesses at the base of the block - the Half Moon Inn and a Chinese restaurant with its blue shutters down.Image source, LDRS
Image caption,

The buildings set to be demolished have been described by Evolve as "largely vacant, tired and dated"

But frustration is building among locals who are seeing no signs of change.

Billingham Boxing Club said its building was in desperate need of repair, but it had just been given a 12-month extension.

A spokesperson said: "It's very, very frustrating for us, we are a community amateur sports club and we had been told we would be moving in May.

"We don't know whether to start putting money into the building or what to do."

Councillor Ann McCoy said she understood the frustration of residents.

"Officers of Stockton Council have been in continuous negotiations with the owners which have taken longer than might be expected due to a number of factors such as the change of ownership of the town centre," she said.

"Now that the planning application has been approved I am confident that we will get the town centre that we can all be proud of."

Evolve Estates have been approached for comment.

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