Continuing legal action over former ICI HQ pushes demolition into New Year.
Stockton Council has condemned a further last-ditch bid to halt the demolition of Billingham House, the derelict former ICI headquarters building which has become an eyesore to local residents.
Preparatory work for the demolition began in September after a judicial review the previous month at the High Court not only ruled that Stockton Council is legally entitled to proceed with its plans to clear the site but also awarded all costs to the Council.
Although this should have cleared the way for dismantling to proceed, the building’s owners, Bizzy B Management, have continued to use further legal moves to frustrate the work. The company, which has allowed the once-proud building to fall into disrepair over several years, then applied to the Court of Appeal for permission to appeal the decision.
Following a recent hearing, the Rt. Hon. Lord Justice Carnwath refused permission to appeal on the grounds that the High Court judge’s conclusions were both carefully reasoned and not open to realistic challenge.
However, Bizzy B have now applied for a hearing to reconsider their application for permission to appeal, and this is not listed until 20 January.
Councillor Mike Smith, Stockton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport and a Billingham Ward Councillor, said: “Bizzy B continue to challenge the legal rulings of some of the country’s highest courts, despite having so far failed to convince these of their case.
“They have had every opportunity to achieve a positive outcome for this site and now local residents, community organisations and councillors have had more than enough. We all want to see this blot on the landscape removed once and for all – and as quickly as possible. But Bizzy B – who so far as I can see have shown no interest whatsoever in this area or its community – continue to challenge the legal rulings. The result is that local people will continue to have to live with this derelict and unsightly ruin for a while longer. Quite how those in charge at Bizzy B can sleep easy at night knowing what the residents continue to endure is beyond me.”
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