'These are the plans, these are the ideas... let's make them real'

CALL FOR 'VIBRANT' STOCKTON REGENERATION PROPOSALS TO BE PUT INTO ACTION

- By GARETH LIGHTFOOT

COUNCIL leaders say they want to turn Stockton into a “24-hour vibrant community” attracting more young professionals and students to live in new town centre homes.

Leaders at Stockton Council want to build “affordable and aspirational properties” in Stockton town centre.

They are planning to develop the Tees Marshalling Yards - an area “underutilised for too long” - and a Health and Care Innovation Zone, along with new homes for people studying and working in the town centre.

Councillor Richard Eglington, cabinet member for regeneration and housing, said the next phase of the regeneration proposals built on a 25-year blueprint for Stockton and north Thornaby approved last July.

He said: “It’s all about growing what we have now. We have a fantastic town, we have fantastic opportunities, we want to make sure we grow and take advantage of the opportunities available, and make them real for the residents and for the people of the Tees Valley.”

It has been dubbed “Tees Central”, linking to the Marshalling Yards and health zone plans.

Cllr Eglington added: “It’s putting it all at the centre of the Tees. This is the stage where we're going to go to cabinet and say, these are the plans, these are the ideas, let's starting making them real.

“Let's start taking them off the paper, talking to our partners, talking to the wider market, and seeing what needs to be done.

“The Marshalling Yards is a huge part of that, and working alongside Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) and other partners to see how we can grow those offers. This whole area has been underutilised for too long, and we need to push forward with ideas of making it a great place that people are going to train, work and live.”

Aside from plans for The Shambles, which have already prompted debate, town centre living is a key part of the proposals.