A shopping centre that once housed a total of 31 stores has been reduced to rubble after B&M Bargains became the final name to move out of the venue. 

In its heyday, Castlegate shopping centre in Stockton enjoyed a busy rush of shoppers, but images released have now shown the venue as a pile of rubble after demolition works have taken place.

B&M was the last out of the businesses that's moved from Castlegate Shopping Centre, filling the historic, vacant Marks and Spencer unit in Stockton town centre.

Read more: Stockton: Pictures of Swallow Hotel and Castlegate demolition

Tenants who have taken up premises in Wellington Square include Barclays, Iceland and Specsavers as well as local retailers Bluecorn Bakery, Junior Jungle and Harry Meynell Butchers.

Before 

The Northern Echo:

After

The Northern Echo:

Now that the demolition work has taken place and all of the units are empty, the huge, eight-acre site will make way for Stockton Waterfront; an urban park with flexible spaces for community and large-scale events with a land bridge structure that will connect the High Street to the riverside. 

Before

The Northern Echo:

After

The Northern Echo:

Work is continuing to prepare the ground for the next stage of the development with over 100,000 tones of rubble being reprocessed on site.

In the images, which have been shared by Stockton Borough Council, the rubble can be seen in a pile where the former Castlegate centre was.

Now

The Northern Echo:

Planned

The Northern Echo:

But now that it's been reduced to rubble - what's the vision for this site?

The Stockton Waterfront is a futuristic and cutting-edge urban park, according to the council.

Here is the vision for Stockton Waterfront:

The Northern Echo: The Northern Echo: The Northern Echo:

The design includes areas and uses for all age ranges throughout the day and night and through different seasons of the year. 

Get more from The Northern Echo with a Premium Plus digital subscription from as little as only £1.50 a week. Click here.

This will see an events space, amphitheatre and main lawn design which can host large-scale events, markets and other entertainment shows. 

The focal point of the park will be a large play area incorporating a wide range of play equipment and features, including accessible equipment, a natural water play area for young children as well as a junior play area that will help the park stand out.

A total of five shelters will be provided in the development, alongside two toilets and two accessible toilets. 

*All images used after from Stockton Borough Council.