Improvement works have begun at Teesside Park this week, representing the first phase in the centre’s long-term redevelopment.
Teesside’s owner, British Land, is investing £12 million over the next two years to improve the traffic flow and overall shopping experience.
The works will see the centre create a wider, three-lane entrance road via Sandown Way and add 80 additional free parking spaces – bringing the total to over 1,600, including 62 disabled spaces and 18 electric car charging bays.
This re-orientated car park and road system will improve accessibility and make it easier for motorists to move around the park.
When the works are complete in Autumn 2020, the centre will also have new pedestrian walkways and landscaped garden areas.
Mike Clarke, centre director at Teesside, said: “We’ve got big plans for the park so it’s brilliant to get started on some of the redevelopments.
“The works aim to make Teesside an even better place to shop, eat and spend time at – and will cement our position as one of the region’s leading leisure destinations.
“Shoppers should know that everything has been carefully planned to minimise any disruption, with only small areas of the car park unavailable at any one time.”
A report recently released by British Land revealed that Teesside Park contributes £50m million to the Tees Valley economy each year, provides 2,4000 jobs for the local area and supports at least one in every 100 jobs.