Stockton banking on success

Jun 12 2007 By The Journal

European funding has played an integral role in £18m of public investment to remediate a 56-acre site on the north shore of the River Tees at Stockton. It is set to create more than 2,500 permanent jobs.

Stockton has made dramatic strides in capitalising on a hidden asset which, until recently, the town had almost forgotten: the River Tees.

The North Shore project has benefited from £3.6m of European Regional Development Fund cash to help prepare the riverside site for a modern, fresh design and make it an innovative and successful urban development. This investment laid the foundations for the project, with site decontamination work, services, landscaping and road infrastructure.

The stunning waterfront position with close proximity to the town centre and Teesdale business park is attracting strong commercial interest, with Amec and Urban Splash already signed up as developers for the site.

The full plans for the project will deliver £300m in both public and private investment. They feature 650,000 square feet of prime office accommodation, 43,000 square feet of leisure amenities with a 100- bedroom hotel, cafés and restaurants, and 480 residential units offering a range of new homes. It will ensure an overall environment based on the highest standards of urban design.

The development will also boast an iconic pedestrian and cycle bridge linking North Shore with Teesdale Business Park, encouraging movement between sites and facilitating the expansion of the University of Durham's Stockton campus.

The significant public investment has prepared the former steel works site for development and enabled the provision of an excellent road system and infrastructure.

Joe Docherty, chief executive of Tees Valley Regeneration, said: "North Shore is a fantastic location with a host of natural advantages. This is a scheme that will not only raise the bar in terms of design and quality but one that will increase both commercial interest and values. Few people realise that a large chunk of the money invested has come from Europe."

The riverside is now a favoured place for walks and is home to an arts venue and three water sports centres. It is the scene of an annual arts festival and national events such as the Dragon Boat Championships.

On the south bank, Teesdale Business Park, Stockton Riverside College and the university's Queen's Campus are all thriving.

PICTURE CAPTION: The North Shore project, River Tees