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Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council to Drive Forward Globe Restoration

logo-landscapeProposals which would see Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council drive forward the restoration of the Globe will be considered next week.

On Wednesday 23 March the Council’s Cabinet will consider a report which recommends that the local authority becomes lead partner for the Globe project.

The Council will be responsible for submitting the next stage of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) bid and appointing a commercial operator to run the Globe as a 2,500 capacity live music and comedy venue.

Cabinet will also be asked to consider allocating £2.1 million earmarked for ‘heritage and town centre development’ within the Medium Term Financial Plan towards the restoration of the Grade II listed art deco building.

Leader of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, Councillor Bob Cook, said: “The Council, Jomast and HLF all remain absolutely committed to the Globe’s restoration and have been exploring the best way to ensure this exciting project can proceed.

“We all recognise that the HLF’s Heritage Enterprise scheme is a new funding stream, and so we have welcomed discussions with partners and the HLF which have concluded that by adopting a development model with the Council as lead partner, the scheme is likely to move forward more quickly.

“This is a very complex project and a lot of preparatory work is required before the restoration phase can begin.  Over the last few months a significant amount of progress has been made behind the scenes including early safety and security work and clearing the building.

“It is also a project with enormous potential to stimulate growth in the town centre. We are already seeing a glimpse of the catalyst it could be with plenty of encouraging signs of confidence in and around that end of the High Street, such as the excellent refurbishment of the Lambton Castle pub and the opening of the super new Dabha restaurant

“There are also plans to bring the former Manhattan pub site back into use as a boutique hotel and bar/bistro and to expand The Georgian Theatre into the former Courtyard Hotel which, along with the Globe restoration, will attract the kind of acts that will bring thousands of visitors and make Stockton Town Centre a buzzing hub for live music and entertainment.”

Managing Director of Jomast, Stuart Monk, said: “After positive and detailed discussions with the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Council about this complex project we are delighted to have reached a really positive outcome whereby the partnership can now make accelerated progress.

“The HLF has granted ‘permission to start,’ the roles of all partners have been clarified and we are really looking forward to working alongside the Council as they drive forward the work needed to bring the Globe back into use as spectacular live entertainment venue.”

The design team will soon be working up plans for the interior of the Globe ahead of the Round 2 bid being submitted to the HLF next year.

Visible preparatory works will start in the coming months.  Subject to HLF approval the restoration will start next summer and the Globe is expected to be ready to open in winter 2018.

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