‘Teesside Tornado’ launches £18m housing development

British Olympic sprinter Richard Kilty – aka the ‘Teesside Tornado’ – has unveiled a £18.7m Keepmoat Homes development in Stockton-on-Tees.

Being built on the site of the recently demolished Victoria Estate, the Sycamores scheme is an integral part of the council’s ambitious town centre regeneration plan.

Incorporating healthy new town principles, the scheme is designed around over 200 mature trees on the site to create a high-quality scheme in an attractive landscaped environment.

It will form the North East corner of the new transformed town centre and complements the refurbishment of the Globe Theatre and other enhancements at the northern end of the town centre.

Mr Kilty, who as a child lived on the demolished Victoria Estate was invited to officially launch the development and unveil the new show village, which provides a glimpse of what the town centre living will be like in the transformed area.

‘We’re delighted that Richard has joined us to formally launch the Sycamores and witness the changes that are taking place in his hometown and on the site where he once lived – he’s a fantastic advocate for the area and a local sporting icon,’ said Keepmoat Homes’ north east land and partnerships director, Ian Prescott.

‘Keepmoat has a long-standing partnership with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council which has delivered the regeneration of the Mandale Estate in Thornaby and the Hardwick and Swainby Road estates in Stockton. The Sycamores is potentially the most ambitious and exciting project taken on by the partnership to date.’

The local authority’s cabinet member for regeneration and housing, Cllr Nigel Cooke added: ‘We are delighted that The Sycamores is progressing well and it’s an honour to have Richard launch a new development here in his hometown.

‘The site is the latest piece of the jigsaw in our town centres fightback and offers a variety of affordable, high quality housing just a stone’s throw away from local restaurants, leisure facilities, shops and transport links that will no doubt appeal to a range of residents.

‘We’ve said all along that we have to revitalise our town centres and high streets in different ways – encouraging people to live in or nearby them is key to our vision for the future,’ added Cllr Cooke.

Photo Credit – Keepmoat Homes