Another piece in town centre regeneration jigsaw: £3million to bring Stockton's heritage buildings back to life

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council has been granted £1.85million thanks to National Lottery players, funded an additional £500,000 and has worked with private owners to secure a further £600,000 for the scheme.

The latest round of grant funding through the National Lottery Heritage Fund's Townscape Heritage scheme has been approved to regenerate a key stretch of the town centre's Northern Gateway area towards Norton Road and the Victoria housing estate.

Which buildings will benefit from this scheme?

The scheme will bring vacant floor space back into use and enhance the exterior of occupied buildings in a designated area spanning from the northern end of Stockton High Street to Norton Road.

Up to 16 buildings will be transformed including 16 High Street which is home to Bennett's fish and chip shop, 9 High Street where Manhattan's is located, and the former Lucinda's restaurant on Norton Road.

The programme will also see improvements to the paving and green space outside Tennant Street medical centre between Laing Street and Tennant Street as well as the entrance to the Victoria housing estate from Norton Road.

Funding will also be used to support a range of heritage community activities and training.

How will this funding benefit Stockton?

Councillor Nigel Cooke, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing, said: "Stockton's rich heritage is valued by our residents so we are delighted with this funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund.

"Many of these buildings have significant historical value and with external support from partners like the National Lottery, we are able to bring vacant spaces into use, restore them back to the attractive heritage buildings they once were and protect them so they can be enjoyed for generations to come.

"This scheme will also complement the regeneration works already complete in the central area of the High Street and throughout the town centre including the Fountain Shopping Mall, the Grade II listed 25 High Street as well as the ongoing restoration of the Grade II listed Globe theatre and nearby Victoria housing estate."

David Renwick, Area Director for the North, National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: "Thanks to National Lottery players this grant will see Stockton-on-Tees complete its 'regeneration jigsaw'. Together, with the other awards totalling £10m made today - including a dazzling new museum of UK entertainment for Blackpool and an iconic cinema building turned world-class entertainment venue in Bradford, this funding gives a clear message of how heritage-led regeneration can play a key part in the future of the North and supporting the Northern Powerhouse. We cannot wait to see these projects in action."

When will it begin? 

The five year project is due to get under way later this year.

What is the Townscape Heritage Programme?

The Townscape Heritage Programme helps communities regenerate towns and cities across the UK by improving their built historic environment and bringing them back into use by creating attractive, vibrant and interesting places for people to live, work, visit and invest.

This is achieved by funding physical works to repair and enhance the historic area in order to encourage business confidence, by providing local people with the opportunity to learn new skills, and by inspiring the local community to take an interest in and get involved with their townscape heritage.