Council wins High Court battle over demolition of local eyesore

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council has won a judicial review at the High Court over whether or not it was entitled to demolish a local eyesore.

The challenge over the fate of Billingham House – the former headquarters for chemicals giant ICI – was brought by the building’s owners, Bizzy B. The company said it wanted to redevelop the site.

But deputy high court judge, Charles George QC, found in Stockton’s favour and awarded costs to the council.

The local authority claimed to have received “overwhelming support” for demolition of the office block and had gained planning approval.

Stockton said it hoped the High Court ruling would bring an end to the legal proceedings, but local press reports quoted representatives of Bizzy B saying they would seek leave to take the case to the Court of Appeal.

Cllr Mike Smith, Stockton's Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, said: "We are delighted with this decision as we have fought long and hard on behalf of the local community to finally rid the landscape of Billingham House.”

Cllr Smith claimed that Bizzy B had “put every legal obstacle possible in our way to prevent the people of Billingham getting what they want”.

Pre-demolition works on the building have already started. The council is also ready to let a tender for a demolition contractor.

Python Properties, which was working with Bizzy B on the redevelopment, claimed earlier this year that 4,500 residents had signed a petition in support of its regeneration plans for Billingham House.

It also said it had offered Stockton an alternative to demolition, which would involve the developers placing funds into a special account. This money would have been made available to pay for the demolition, if the developers had not completed all external works within six months.