Stockton Council to vote on £13m Billingham town centre purchase

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 29 Oct, 17:51 · Archive

Stockton Council's Labour-run cabinet will decide on 4 November whether to buy Billingham town centre from current owners Sheet Anchor Evolve for £13m.

Stockton Council's Labour-run cabinet will vote on 4 November on whether to acquire Billingham town centre from current owners Sheet Anchor Evolve for £13m. The purchase and associated works would be funded by a £20m grant first announced as levelling up funding under the previous Conservative government in 2023 and later confirmed by the current Labour administration.

Cabinet member for resources and regeneration Councillor Paul Rowling described the existing town centre as 'quite run down' and highlighted the urgency of the decision. He said the funding must be spent by March 2028, making this 'the only game in town if we want to do it'. The council's working valuation of the town centre is £10.75m, and the cabinet will have to decide whether it can justify paying the higher asking price. Papers show that since 2008 the centre has had four private sector owners, none of whom have invested in it, and the current owner has indicated no plans for major repair and improvement works.

Phase one of the project, which will be voted on next week, would see the council take full control, carry out repairs, and demolish the vacant Queensway South building and the former library. No local council money is being used and no tenants are affected by the demolition plans as the buildings in question are vacant. Councillor Rowling said a modern, vibrant town centre needs 'a mixture of residential, retail and leisure' and this is 'where Billingham's future lies'.

How it is being reported

• Councillors to vote on purchase of town centreStockton's cabinet is set to decide on whether to spend £13m acquiring Billingham town centre.BBC Tees · 29 Oct, 17:26
• 'Taking back control': Cabinet to vote on £13m proposal to buy Billingham town centreCllr Paul Rowling said that any 'modern, vibrant town centre', needs to have a mixture of residential, retail and leisure adding: 'And I think that’s where Billingham’s future lies'TeessideLive · 29 Oct, 14:24

In this story: Stockton Council · Billingham · Sheet Anchor Evolve · Paul Rowling

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