‘Ugly’ UK town centre to be DEMOLISHED in £20million facelift – as talks enter final stages

A DESERTED town centre is set to be demolished and rebuilt as part of a £20 million makeover. Stores currently operating in the 1960s precinct include Asda, Greggs and Card Factory. An artist’s impression of how Billingham town centre could look Credit: Stockton Borough Council Billingham town centre is currently home to dozens of stores, including Asda and Greggs Credit: GOOGLE Stockton Borough Council (SBC) intends to buy Billingham town centre outright in a move that would bring the precinct under the authority’s control. The plan, which would use £20 million allocated from the Government’s Levelling Up fund, is to demolish and clear the shops in the area and replace them with new buildings. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The council has been trying to buy and redevelop the town centre since 2024, while last year councillors called the precinct “ugly”. However, the precinct was bought that year by London investment group Evolve Estates, now Sheet Anchor Evolve. Discussions between the council and the new owners of the town centre are in the final stages, the BBC has reported. Plans by Sheet Anchor Evolve to knock down, improve and replace “vacant, tired and dated” buildings were approved in March last year. At the time, councillors welcomed the chance to “get rid of an ugly town centre”. Residents in the area have been discussing the latest developments of the town centre on social media. Most read in The Sun One person posted on Facebook: “Only improvement is to demolish it”, while a second person wrote: “Billingham is a forgotten town, always has been.” Another resident lamented news of the potential sale, and added: “A sad state of affairs for Billingham and residents.” The Sun has contacted SBC for comment. Comment now