Despite its proud history as a market town and significant investment, Stockton town centre continues to under perform. The growing population in the Borough and recent planning strategy for accommodating future growth in the core urban area of Stockton provided the context for promoting Stockton as a healthy and vibrant town centre once again.

Matrix Partnership were commissioned as part of a team to refresh the town’s retail offer, its attractiveness to residents, visitors, students, operators, and shoppers who currently prefer to use Middlesbrough, Darlington, Teesside Park and Durham for retail activity and for nights out.

The strategy focuses on answering three key questions:

1) How can Stockton successfully diversify its retail/leisure/evening economy offer including strengthening the interface with its Cultural Quarter?

2) What are the opportunities and barriers to developing new areas and sectors of the retail/leisure/evening economy in the town centre?

3) What steps and priorities for action need to be taken to stimulate and develop the retail and evening economy?