Council in race against time to take down Billingham House eyesore.
A council is facing a race against time to get the go-ahead for controversial plans to demolish a dangerous eyesore. Stockton Borough Council says the former ICI headquarters, in Billingham, is in desperate need of demolition, but it is involved in a legal battle with owners Bizzy B Management, which believes it should be redeveloped.
Hundreds of thousands of pounds in funding for the demolition project for Billingham House has been promised by regional development agency One North East. However, the body is due to be abolished by the end of the year.
In the latest of a series of hearings at London’s High Court yesterday, Clive Sheldon QC, for the council, said that funding is at risk if the 16-week demolition contract is not completed by December 16. He told the judge that work must start on the huge job of reducing the landmark to rubble by August 29 at the latest.
Bizzy B, which says the land alone is worth £1.2m, is mounting a wide-ranging attack on the council’s decision to demolish the building, but the case was adjourned after new developments came to light.
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