Member Article

Demolition heralds new chapter for Teesside estate

The demolition of an old pub has heralded the beginning of a new era for a Teesside housing estate.

The transformation of Stockton’s Victoria Estate took a big step forward, with the Spotted Cow public house being the first building to be removed as part of ambitious plans to demolish and re-build the housing estate.

Victoria Estate, originally built in the 1960s and located behind Stockton High Street and the ‘Splash’ leisure pool and centre, consists of more than 250 homes made up of maisonettes and flats.

Following detailed and extensive consultation, a plan for the demolition and re-building of the estate has been agreed with residents.

Working with housing partners Tristar Homes (part of The Vela Group) it is intended that the demolition of housing will start in 2014.

The new development is set to include a range of different homes for sale and rent whilst maintaining many of the existing trees and open spaces – detailed plans will be put in place once a developer has been confirmed.

Councillor Steve Nelson, Cabinet Member for Housing and Community Safety, said: “I would like to thank the members of the community who have worked with us to ensure the re-location programme and plans for the future meet the needs of the community.

“The programme of demolition and re-building will ensure that we can provide new homes that provide residents with more eco-friendly, well-designed and comfortable places to live.

“Victoria Estate is a great community with lots of residents, young and old, who share a strong sense of community spirit.”

Mark Dutton, Head of Regeneration at Vela, said: “Redevelopment of the estate presents a fantastic opportunity to replace out-dated and less popular housing with some high quality new homes in the heart of the town centre.”

Residents are now in the process of being relocated to new accommodation in a phased programme – ensuring that, where possible, remaining residents are not left isolated.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .