Stockton on Tees :feature 2 14/08/2013 10:49 Page 49
LOCAL AUTHORITIES: STOCKTON-ON-TEES BOROUGH COUNCIL
T
he future vision for Stockton Town Centre is for a modern, successful and vibrant market town with high quality public spaces and a growing retail offer that serves the needs of residents of the borough. High quality “Creative and Connected Spaces” will reinforce the town as the North East’s “Capital of Street Arts” with animated public spaces that support the town’s rich heritage in street entertainment. The local authority also aims to continue to build on the asset of the River Tees and riverside area which provides a high quality setting for new businesses, recreational activities and unique opportunities for riverside living. Currently, construction of the first phase of the £300 million Northshore development is underway. The 23-hectare mixed-use regeneration scheme will transform Stockton’s Riverside by delivering over 1.8 million square feet of offices, leisure and retail accommodation. This is in addition to high quality housing, all of which are within walking distance of the town centre.
www.bdcmagazine.co.uk
The multi-million pound scheme is being developed by Muse Developments in partnership with the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), supported by Stockton Council. The site includes a £6 million Innovation Centre for digital service and technology businesses, and has been earmarked for new facilities required to expand the Durham University Queen's Campus. Once completed the Northshore scheme could create in the region of 4,500 jobs. The development also includes Vivo. This exciting housing development has just completed the initial phase of homes, fifty two-bedroom, three-bedroom and four-bedroom houses have been built in an ideal riverside location next to the iconic Infinity Bridge. Phase two sees the development of seventy-six two, three and four-bedroom homes overlooking the iconic Infinity Bridge with many having roof terraces so residents can make the most of the stunning riverside location. Other key projects include North High Street. Opportunities exist to reintroduce short stay car parking within the High Street as part of the radical public realm initiative that will incorporate improvements to the public transport
network as part of the Tees Valley Major Bus Scheme. This introduction of short stay parking at the northern end of the high street will contribute to a total of approximately fifty new spaces on the High Street. Changes to the existing High Street layout will enhance the pedestrian experience and coupled with improvements to existing retail frontages, lighting and refurbishment of the Globe Theatre will create a vibrant gateway to the northern end of the High Street. North High Street improvements will tie into the proposals for Central Square via the new Infinity View Plaza that create improved physical linkages to the riverside with direct views of the award winning Infinity Bridge. Elsewhere, the key design aim behind Central Square is to create a piece of high quality public realm that provides a central focus for the High Street seven days a week whist improving the setting of the listed Town Hall. This central square will provide an intense hub of activity both during the day and into the evening which supports and reinforces the linkages between the two main shopping centres, Cultural Quarter and Arc.
BUILDING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION MAGAZINE
49