First Spade in Ground for Iconic Stockton Waterfront Scheme

Construction of Stockton, England’s new urban park, tipped to be a transformational public space for residents and visitors, is now underway. Esh Construction is working on behalf of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council to deliver the Stockton Waterfront development.

The scheme is part of the council’s commitment to further develop the Borough’s town centers, ensuring they are vibrant, economically successful places, attracting investment and fit for future generations. Councilors and representatives from Esh Construction joined Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen to mark the start onsite where the former Castlegate Shopping Centre and Swallow Hotel stood before its demolition earlier this year.

The development will include a series of impressive, unique play areas and a host of flexible spaces across the urban park, which will open up the high street and connect it to the River Tees through a land bridge structure, spanning Riverside Road, providing uninterrupted access to the riverside from the high street.

Work in the first phase will include the realignment and narrowing of Riverside Road, the construction of a 55-meter land bridge structure and extension of the existing Millenium Footbridge.

Phase two will include paving elements for the oval lawn taking the park over the top of the highway, new gardens and the installation of new play areas. In the final phase, the construction of a large-scale amphitheater will link the high street to the riverside and provide an impressive event space.

The layout of the park takes influence from the linear burgage plots and historic connections between the working river and high street. Heritage interpretation will feature throughout, with Stockton and Darlington Railway line interpretation under the Millennium Footbridge and heritage railway lines close to the riverside within the feature paving.

A large-scale play area for all ages will be the focal point of the park and will include a variety of features to make the play space as accessible as possible.

The innovative project is being funded by a combination of the council’s own capital, a £20-million investment from the Tees Valley Combined Authority and £16.5 million from the Government’s Future High Streets Fund.

Procured via North East Procurement Organisation, Esh will work in partnership with Ryder Architecture and Billinghurst George & Partners to deliver the project.