Stockton's urban park remains on track for Spring completion
It's been two years since work started on the Waterfront development
Last updated 1st Dec 2025
Two years on from the first spade in the ground on the Stockton Waterfront development, significant progress has been made on the site.
The transformational urban park will create a new public space that residents and visitors will be able to enjoy as part of Council plans to transform the town centre.
It will include features such as new play areas for families, flexible spaces for hosting a range of events and food and street trading opportunities.
A 55m land bridge structure has been created, which will allow people to walk from the High Street to the riverside and connect Stockton Town Centre with the River Tees once again.
Currently, work on the amphitheatre is progressing with the installation of 402 granite steps, which will provide a large, terraced area on the riverside, using the seven-metre level change to create a curved seating terrace which will focus on a performance space.
The closure of Riverside Road earlier this year allowed work to progress significantly on the lower park, including the construction of the realigned A1305 Riverside Road in its new single carriageway layout.
The closure has ensured the project is on track for a Spring 2026 completion. In order for the project to be completed in this timeframe, Riverside Road will remain closed until the work is finished in Spring.
Keeping the road closed until the work on the urban park is completed allows the contractor to complete essential work in a more efficient way across the large, complex site without having to accommodate a live carriageway.
Access to Quayside Road will reopen by mid-December. Vehicles will be able to enter Quayside Road from Moat Street through the former builder’s yard and exit back onto Moat Street or A1305 Riverside Road, heading southbound. The loading bay and taxi rank on Riverside Road southbound will also reopen.
Ensuring the project is delivered on time will shorten the disruption for town centre businesses, allowing them to benefit from all the positives Stockton Waterfront will bring and drive economic growth.
Councillor Paul Rowling, Cabinet Member for Resources and Transport at Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, said:
“It is fantastic to see such positive progress taking place on the urban park. It isn’t long until it will be ready for everyone to enjoy and businesses will benefit from increased footfall and the enhanced opportunities it will bring.
“In order to allow the contractor to work in the most efficient way on the site, it’s necessary for Riverside Road to remain closed to traffic until the completion of the project. This will ensure that work is completed in the spring and on budget. While we understand this closure will cause temporary disruption, it is to the benefit of everyone that the urban park is finished as soon as possible.”
“We’ve been working with businesses on Quayside Road to support them during the works. As well as the alternative access via Moat Street, I am pleased that we’ve been able to arrange for Quayside Road to reopen so that they can have access and the use of the loading bay and taxi rank restored. This will help customers accessing the businesses throughout the festive period.”
Stephen McClean, Construction Manager at Esh Construction, said:
“Safety remains our absolute priority as we deliver the final stages of the Stockton Waterfront Urban Park project. The continued closure of Riverside Road enables us to complete essential activities – such as extending the Millenium Footbridge into the park, constructing the riverside activity play area, the amphitheatre and road lighting – without the risks associated with live traffic.
“These tasks require machinery and space, and maintaining the closure ensures a safer environment for our workforce, subcontractors and the general public. We appreciate the continued patience of residents and businesses as we work to finish the programme efficiently and to the highest safety standards.”