Bold Brave Innovative – How Stockton BC and Its Partners Are Turning Their Vision for Town Centre Regeneration Into a Reality

Tees Valley’s third session at UKREiiF was focused on the ongoing mammoth transformation of key sites in Stockton Town Centre.  

The session kicked off with a glimpse of an emerging vision for Tees Central – a new urban core at the heart of the region driven by residential, commercial, educational and care and health innovation opportunities. 

Stockton Council’s Iain Robinson, Assistant Director Town Centres Development, led a presentation on the site, a 125ha development opportunity spanning significant brownfield site in Tees Marshalling Yards, Teesdale Business Park and other areas alongside Stockton Town Centre. 

Iain pointed to the successful work that has taken place in the past year on Stockton Waterfront’s urban park. Demolition and construction have been under way for 16 months, with completion due within the next year. At the same time, the first piece of the jigsaw for the care and health innovation zone was finished – the UK’s biggest Community Diagnostics Centre. 

Tees Central would include: 

• Three acres of riverside residential property, adjacent to the Waterfront park 

• A new municipal quarter at the north end of the town alongside Hampton by Hilton 

• On the Teesdale side of the river, a medical school, clinical facilities and student accommodation in association with Teesside University 

• Unused education space repurposed to innovation space in the care and health sector 

• A new transport hub and links with existing infrastructure east-west 

• In the longer-term, the redevelopment of Tees Marshalling Yards in residential, commercial and clinical space 

A panel session was then chaired by Stockton Borough Council Chief Executive Mike Greene, joined by its Director of Regeneration and Inclusive Growth, Tracey Carter, Homes England Assistant Director Marie Kiddell, Buccleuch Property’s Development Director Sandy Smith and Lyndsey Robinson, Teesside University’s DigitalCity Director. 

Sandy began the panel by highlighting the “very real opportunity” for commercial investment in the region, thanks to the groundwork laid by the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority, alongside its constituent councils. He pointed to the Middlesbrough Development Corporation as a particular success, but praised the incredible ambition Stockton was showing.  

Tracy then spoke about Stockton Council’s efforts to make the plans a reality, including resource building, the “cocktail of different delivery partners” needed to deliver the scheme. This is exemplified by land ownership at Tees Central, with stakeholders including the Council but also Network Rail, BB Cargo, TVCA and Homes England. Rationalising land ownership and understanding the transport infrastructure, getting the decision-makers around the table from the beginning, will shortcut what could be a long process. 

The challenge and need to develop many different types of tenure and properties – everything from extra care end to young professionals going into the 1,500-strong FujiFilm site. Marie offered the perspective from Homes England, which would help to shape the strategy and offer wide-ranging funding packages available.  

Teesside University’s mission to transform lives and economy was the focus of Lyndsey’s contribution, pointing to 54-56% of its graduates continuing to live and work in Tees Valley. Its business incubation offer for graduates and students are helping start-ups, particularly around games and tech, while it is working with the Combined Authority on the new £160million Innovation Zone around creative and digital businesses.

The University has also been working with NHS trusts and Stockton on the development of local skills to ensure a robust care and health workforce – including pharmacy, language and speech, paramedic training and further offers. By anchoring this training in Stockton, Tees Central will help create a place Lynsey knows students and graduates want to stay and work. 

The panel concluded focusing on the challenges these ambitions face, with Sandy again highlighting the £200million approval for Middlesbrough’s Gresham zone, secured within ten weeks. This level of local authority confidence, he argued, was key for developers. This, along with retaining existing talent and attracting new – “giving the people a reason they want to come in (to towns) at the weekend” – was also vital, alongside collaboration. 

Stockton’s ambitious project is only just beginning. If you want to join Stockton on its journey and play a part in the new Tees Central, email