A sociable and cultural place
![sociable 2 CGI of redevelopment debenhams](https://stockton.gov.uk/image/6648/sociable-2/standard.png?m=1721390195977)
Our culture and attitude bring a shared sense of identity and give power to local people to make the town centre a place to enjoy. Our events and infrastructure are helping to make our future, including markets, music venues, shops and our distinctive pubs and bars.
We will continue to support these opportunities, bring empty units back into use and promote our fantastic restaurants and leisure offers.
Town Centre North - the former Debenhams building
We will explore opportunities for entertainment, gaming and leisure in the former Debenhams building. This will link to the success of Stockton Globe.
A strong town centre offer
The town centre plans help Stockton be a welcoming and attractive town centre, where everyone is welcome to spend time and socialise, by:
- expanding the range of our shops and great leisure facilities to bring more people to the town
- focusing our shops around Wellington Square shopping centre, with chains and our treasured independent stores
- following national trends and attract more restaurants and family eating venues into the town centre
- encouraging shops and restaurants that cater for locals, and also attracting visitors to the area
A safe and vibrant area
The Blueprint creates both a safe and a vibrant place to be by:
- providing support for starter businesses and helping to fill empty units in the town
- bringing the former Debenhams building back into use at the north end of the High Street, to support successful venues like Stockton Globe
- reducing levels of crime and anti-social behaviour so that the everyone feels safer in the town centre
A lively events town
We aim to expand the Borough's leisure and entertainment offer by:
- promoting live events and festivals, building on our incredible calendar of events
- celebrating and supporting venues like Stockton Globe, The Georgian Theatre and our traditional markets
Challenges
Some of the challenges in creating a strong town centre offering are that:
- we have boldly reduced our retail space due to the demolition of Castlegate Shopping Centre but vacancies remain, as is the case in many town centres in the UK
- it's important for the town centre offer to continue to broaden, given national retail trends
- we must ensure that people feel safe and welcome in the area at all times
Key areas
Town Centre North
Using the former Debenhams building and supporting the use of other empty properties.
Town Centre South
Our traditional market will be supported and The Shambles building will be refurbished. Commercial space could be made in the space beneath the new proposed apartments on Stockton Waterfront. This provides space to socialise and watch events.
Municipal Quarter
The library will be kept and Splash leisure centre will be refurbished as some of our important town centre facilities. There is also potential for living and working space and restaurants to be created to support our communities.
Castlegate Quay
An opportunity to provide a leisure destination, supporting its current uses, which could include a floating restaurant.
Stockton Waterways
An opportunity to develop the land around the White Water Course as an amphitheatre for live events and a floating lido as a unique town centre attraction.
Tees Valley Care and Health Innovation Zone (TVCHIZ)
Facilities to meet community needs, like uniting the river banks for use at St Mark's Basin.
Potential projects
Castlegate Quay riverside leisure destination
Potential regeneration of the waterfront near to Moat Street. This would create a vibrant arrival point for the town. The area could become a huge cultural epicentre, celebrating the first passenger railway with a mix of entertainment.
The Shambles refurbishment
This will enhance one of our important town centre buildings and explore extra uses for indoor and outdoor space. This could include a food and drink market to connect it to the urban park.
Municipal Quarter
New neighbourhood cafes, shops and bars for our urban residents.