DEMOLITON day has finally arrived for a building which has dominated a Teesside High Street for 50 years.

But the well-known fixture won’t be coming down overnight – with a 12 month timetable set out to bring it down. Crews began work on the first stage of demolishing Stockton’s

Castlegate shopping centre on Monday with MGL Demolition staff starting what council officials called “enabling works” and a “strip out”.

More prominent signs of the shopping centre’s demolition are set to come in late June – with the main demolition work expected in late July. Ambitious plans for a £36m waterfront urban park are envisaged to arrive on the High Street in 2025 – with a “land bridge” to the River Tees, office spaces and a new leisure centre to replace Splash at the southern end of the stretch.

The Castlegate’s demolition will take around 12 months to complete before construction on the overhauled riverside area begins in summer 2023. Designed by corrupt architect John Poulson, the Castlegate opened its doors in 1972 – featuring a 150ft food hall and pyramid designs on its ceiling.

Stockton Council took a big stake in both sides of the High Street in 2019 – buying the Castlegate and the former Swallow Hotel for £13.8m and Wellington Square for £7m.

Agreements have been reached with a number of Castlegate businesses as part of a decant onto the opposite side of the High Street.

But council officials confirmed there were still a number of discussions ongoing with some of the remaining tenants still operating in the centre. Firms which would have been affected by the first phase of demolition works have now moved out.

Customer toilets at the shopping hub closed in January to pave the way for the demolition work. Council bosses say the “detailed design” of the riverside site will get underway soon – hinting that they will be “revisiting” some elements of the existing concept, and that the public will have a chance to offer their views once again.

Instead of an authority headquarters on the southern end of the High Street, hundreds of Stockton Council staff are set to move across the river to a base at Dunedin House, Thornaby. Over the water, Esh Construction will be responsible for the detailed design and construction of the waterfront park.

Esh director Steven Garrigan said: “This is a significant contract award for Esh as we continue our organic growth across the region. We are delighted to be working in partnership with Stockton Council to help them bring to fruition the future vision for Stockton waterfront.

“As with all Esh projects, we will deliver a comprehensive package of initiatives to provide positive economic and social benefits for the local community.” Joint MGL boss Mark Davison was also very proud his firm had been appointed to demolish the Castlegate and former Swallow.

He added: “This is an important project which will breathe new life into the High Street and open up the town to the river and we are delighted to be playing a role in that. MGL Demolition has over 50 years’ experience delivering works of this nature and we look forward to continuing our successful working relationship with Stockton Council.”

The shopping centre was fairly quiet on Monday morning. Cllr Nigel Cooke, cabinet member for housing and regeneration, said they were ambitious and the “scale of change they’re driving” showed that.

The Labour member added: “If you want to achieve big things you have to deliver big projects and we’re working with the best to deliver something that’s bold, different and is really transformational. We’re delighted to be working with MGL Demolition and Esh Construction to develop this amazing waterfront site that will cement Stockton as a place for future generations to enjoy.”

Cash from the Future High Streets Fund and £20m from the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) is going towards the vast overhaul. Conservative Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “This is a great step forward for this massive project, which will breathe new life into Stockton Town Centre and reinvigorate its high street.

“Just days after the launch of mayoral development corporations in Hartlepool and Middlesbrough, which will cut through red tape and supercharge redevelopment, it’s fantastic to see Stockton is cracking on with their ambitious plans to reshape their town centre. Our funding and this latest news will mean local people will see a real change for the better in a matter of months, not years.”

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