A RADICAL £80m redevelopment programme has been proposed for Stockton town centre.

It includes the demolition of the Swallow Hotel, an adjoining car park and part of the Castlegate shopping centre.

A new bus station would be built in the area - and another on the other side of the High Street - as well as a public square and car park as part of a new "gateway" to the town.

The High Street would be pedestrianised but still hold the market around the town hall and an indoor market in the Shambles.

Drivers Jonas, consultants working for Stockton Council, hoped cafes and hostelries would be given generous space. An elevated walk would be created from Dovecot Street to the already planned new bridge.

Improved connections with the multi-million pound Northbank business, retail and housing development would be provided at the northern side of the High Street.

The consultants also envisage a new four-star hotel on the riverside directly behind the town centre and a new riverside village which would include housing and restaurants.

No definite figure has been given for the cost of the ten-year scheme.

However, it is expected that about £20m of public money would be needed from Government agencies including regional development agency One NorthEast. It is hoped that about £60m would then be brought in from the private sector.

Tim Claxton, assistant partner in Drivers Jonas, revealed the proposals at the Arc theatre on Wednesday.

"We have consulted the public and they were concerned about the decline of the market, decline of retail outlets, the problem of too many buses and wanted more use of the riverside. They are the same issues that we want to address," he said.