Castlegate Shopping Centre to permanently close ahead of phase two of demolition

Castlegate Shopping Centre is set to permanently close in late October to enable the second phase of demolition of the centre and the Swallow Hotel.

The second phase of demolition of the site is due to begin on Monday 24 October, which will include the complete demolition of the hotel and shopping centre up to the mall entrance at B&M.

The buildings are being demolished in order to create Stockton Waterfront, a bold and visionary urban park, riverside plaza and land bridge structure that will connect Stockton High Street to the River Tees.

During the second phase of demolition, a number of changes will be in place from Monday 24 October:

• Castlegate Shopping Centre will permanently close (there will be no access to the shopping centre or Spencer Market Hall. B&M and Barclays will remain open with access from Stockton High Street)
• Castlegate Shopping Centre's rooftop car park will permanently close (find alternative town centre car parks)
• access into Castlegate Shopping Centre via the Millennium Footbridge will be permanently closed (a pedestrian diversion will be available via the Riverside Road footbridge into Silver Street or via Tower Street)

Hoardings covering the second phase will be installed along the High Street and Riverside Road in preparation for the next phase of demolition.

Demolition teams will then move through the most northern part of the centre following the relocation of remaining tenants Barclays and B&M.

An engagement process with businesses in the town is also underway to ensure that all efforts are made to minimise disruption in the immediate area and surrounding town centre.

The first phase of demolition, which involved the complete demolition multi storey carpark and the southern end of the shopping centre, is almost complete.

Councillor Nigel Cooke, Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration at Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, said: "This is an exciting time for Stockton Town Centre and the closure of Castlegate Shopping Centre represents an important milestone in both the town's history and its redevelopment.

"The demolition is in its early stages but you can already see the striking impact that removing these buildings will have on the town and how wonderful it will be once the High Street is fully opened up to the river.

"We've worked closely with Castlegate's tenants on their relocation into Wellington Square and there's been some real success stories there. The work we are doing in Stockton and across our six town centres to encourage new uses and ensure they are vibrant places means that the future will be bright for residents, businesses and visitors."

The demolition will be complete in summer 2023, with the construction and redevelopment of the urban park beginning soon after.

For Council news direct to your inbox sign up to our My Council Newsletter.