£6.5m plans for shops and town hall upgrade

FORMER DEBENHAMS BUILDING COULD BE BROUGHT BACK INTO USE

- By GARETH LIGHTFOOT Local democracy reporter

LEADERS will be asked to spend £6.5m on proposals to upgrade town centre shops and revive Stockton's town hall and former Debenhams building.

Councillors on Stockton Council's cabinet will discuss the latest plans to change retail units in Stockton town centre for startup traders today. It is proposed to upgrade the vacant council-owned shops to create spaces suitable for small businesses.

It is also recommended to start works to bring Stockton Town Hall back into use, and "develop options and engage the market in opportunities to bring the former Debenhams building back into operation".

The cabinet will be asked to use £6.5m from capital funds, previously agreed to redevelop the town hall, to move the proposals forward.

The plans come after the council changed controversial proposals for The Shambles on High Street. It announced it no longer proposed to change the 19th century market hall into a food and drink venue and move the existing businesses there.

The council says a small number of council-owned empty units around Wellington Square, which has about 300,000 visits a month, could be split to reduce startup costs for small businesses.