Town's regeneration plans are 'complex'

COUNCIL BOSSES SAY 'WE'RE MOVING AS FAST AS WE CAN'

- By GARETH LIGTHTFOOT

A TOWN centre block will be demolished faster for a major regeneration project under a council partnership with its owners, leaders have said.

Council bosses say they are “moving as fast as we can” with the regeneration of Billingham after receiving a £20m levelling up grant from the government in April.

The council is finalising legal agreements with town centre owner Evolve Estates to acquire part of Queensway South, West Precinct and the former library site.

It says existing tenants will be moved and old buildings demolished to make way for residential development and commercial investment by Evolve. This follows the council’s decision in June 2024 to buy, demolish and clear the 1960s-built West Precinct including the former library site and Queensway South buildings, move tenants and develop about 160 new homes and 2,000sqm of commercial floor-space, with planning approval for demolition of “vacant, tired and dated buildings” in March.

Now, in a change to previous plans, it is proposed for Evolve to demolish Queensway South before the council takes ownership, rather than the other way around.

Council chiefs say it will be “more efficient” for Evolve to manage a contractor on their land, and asked the council's cabinet to endorse this on Thursday.

Councillor Richard Eglington, cabinet member for regeneration and housing, said the “landscape had changed” as Evolve Estates took ownership of the town centre.