Urban park life for Stockton

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council granted outline planning permission this week for the creation of a new urban park in the heart of Stockton Town Centre. The scheme proposes the demolition of the existing Castlegate Shopping Centre and the creation of a new urban park in its place, linking the High Street with the River Tees - as well as a campus of new mixed use buildings.

It is intended that the new park will host a range of activities, including festivals, markets, live music and other performances, which will help to add new vibrancy to Stockton Town Centre.

By encouraging the relocation of the remaining retailers within the Castlegate Centre to the other main shopping centre in the town centre (Wellington Square) the scheme also aims to consolidate the town centre’s retail offer and reduce the overall vacancy rate.

Lichfields prepared and submitted the planning application for the scheme on this 5.6 ha site and are advising on the Council on next stages, including the demolition of the centre and submission of reserved matters applications. It follows on from the preparation of a masterplan for the site by Ryder Architecture and a range of work previously undertaken by Lichfields for the Council, including a Borough-wide retail study and town centre regeneration study.