STANDING more than 25 metres tall, a giant drilling machine has arrived to sink the foundations for Stockton’s new Hampton by Hilton hotel.
The towering machine is making its mark on the skyline as it installs the hotel’s deep ‘pile’ foundations.
The process involves drilling to depths of up 25 metres while pouring reinforced concrete to create the column-shaped foundations on which the hotel will stand.
The new Hampton by Hilton hotel will be Hilton’s first in the town, and will be owned by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.
Hotel ‘will bring a famous global brand to the town’
The Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing, Councillor Nigel Cooke, said: “It’s great to see construction of the hotel progressing really well and there’s no more obvious sign of that than the arrival of this impressive machine on site. It won’t be long before the steelwork starts taking shape too.
“This hotel will bring a famous global brand to the town, attract £6.7million per year into the local economy, and will be welcomed with open arms by local businesses and the Chamber of Commerce, who have expressed overwhelming support for it.
“It will also complement the restoration of the Globe, our world-class events programme and, combined with our award-winning High Street, ensure the town centre remains an attractive place to visit and invest.
“There are several viewing points dotted around the site perimeter fence so you can even come along and take a look at how it’s progressing yourself.”
What do the others involved in the project think?
The 128-bed hotel is being built by construction contractor, Bowmer & Kirkland, on the former dairy car park site.
The site forms part of the mixed-use Northshore regeneration scheme, incorporating new offices, homes and leisure facilities near Stockton town centre.
The 56-acre, £300million scheme is a partnership between Muse Developments, the Homes and Communities Agency and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.
Simon Dew, of Muse Developments, said: “It was a pleasure to join our project partners and celebrate this early milestone in the construction of Stockton’s new Hampton by Hilton hotel.
“This major investment will complement the successful phases of development at Northshore delivered to date and the Council’s ongoing investment in the adjacent town centre.
“This development will further add to the vibrancy of Stockton and we are looking forward to seeing construction progress over the coming months.”
Marie Liddell, Head of Public Land at the Homes and Communities Agency, added: “The start of work on the Hilton is fantastic news since it will help connect Northshore with the town centre, as well as complement the other developments on the site.”
While Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president, development, EMEA, Hilton, said: “Nearly 60 UK towns and cities are now home to one of our hotels. Widely available in the UK, Hampton by Hilton taps into the need for modern hotel accommodation to suit a variety of travel needs.
“The Council’s ambition and the award-winning regeneration of the nearby High Street are extremely impressive. With a host of large companies located in the Tees Valley area, we expect the new hotel to lead the market.”
Picture caption: On site to see the hotel’s foundations go in are (left to right), Bowmer & Kirkland’s Darren Stoker, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing, Councillor Nigel Cooke, Marie Liddell of the Homes and Communities Agency, Alan McBride, of Muse Developments, Neil Holland, of Hilton, and Simon Dew, of Muse Developments.