Council to press on with ex-Debenhams regeneration

Stockton Council bought the former Debenhams building in October 2023

A call to hold off on final decisions about redeveloping a former Debenhams department store has been rejected on the grounds it would "stall momentum" for a town's regeneration push.

The building in Stockton is earmarked to become an NHS hub as part of a multimillion-pound scheme.

Independent councillor Ted Strike said the Labour-run local authority should hold off investing heavily in the property until committee reports on capital spending were finalised in the spring of next year.

However, Councillor Richard Eglington, cabinet member for regeneration and housing, warned transformation efforts could "grind to a halt" if that approach was taken.

In a motion to a full council meeting on Wednesday, Strike proposed regular updates be given on the project's finances and risks and said lessons should be learned from the town's Globe Theatre regeneration "where costs escalated significantly over time".

He said: "I think it's only right and proper that this council comes back with the costs and lets the people of this borough know what they may be in for before we give the go-ahead."

'Money pit' fears

His calls were backed by Councillor Niall Innes, Conservative group deputy leader, who said the authority did not "have a good track record" with building projects.

Meanwhile, Councillor John McDermottroe, the Reform UK local party chairman for Stockton North, asked whether the site could "become yet another money pit for the taxpayers of the borough".

Deputy council leader Paul Rowling said there was already delegation to cabinet and officers, as well as scrutiny through committees, with the capital programme approved by full council.

Eglington told the council meeting: "To pause every step of the way to return to committee would stall any momentum and be counter-productive.

"Issuing a running commentary on all conversations would serve only as a distraction."

He added: "We know the risks of allowing large buildings to fall into the hands of unsuitable and unscrupulous developers.

"We will not let that happen with Debenhams."

Strike's motion was defeated by a vote of 28 to 19, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.