Member Article

Demolition of town centre eyesore begins

A Teesside town centre eyesore will soon disappear as part of a multi-million pound revamp.

As part of Stockton town centre’s regeneration, Lindsay House is being removed from the High Street.

A demolition excavator with a special attachment called a “nibbler” began dismantling the 1970s eyesore piece-by-piece at the weekend.

It will be demolished over the next three consecutive Sundays, with the debris being removed throughout the week to minimise disruption to businesses and shoppers.

The demolition will open up the route from the town centre to the restaurants and watersports on the town’s Riverside.

Next year, an on-street short-stay car park will be created in the vacant Lindsay House space and it will also be used for specialist markets throughout the year.

As soon as the demolition is complete, work will start on the construction of the car park and paving the area.

Stockton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, Councillor Mike Smith, said: “This is a massive step forward for the regeneration of Stockton Town Centre.

“The removal of Lindsay House will really transform the look and feel of the High Street and help us showcase everything our town centre has to offer from water based leisure activities and Riverside restaurants to markets, events and independent shops.

“It is a really exciting stage and I can’t wait to see what our town centre looks like once Lindsay House has been demolished.

“I hope people will soon start to take advantage of the improved link between the town centre and the Riverside.”

The demolition comes as works at the northern end of the High Street progress.

Paving and street lighting columns are being replaced, pedestrian crossings upgraded and roads resurfaced.

Knowles Street will be closed during certain periods while the demolition of Lindsay House takes place.

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