Improvements make Stockton's Wellington Square stairwells a safer place

Wells Commercial Refurbishment Specialists have helped bring two unused stairwells back to life for the first time in 15 years at a well-known shopping centre car park on Teesside.

Stockton’s Wellington Square has seen increased footfall following the re-opening of the Globe Theatre two years ago.

Discount retailer B&M have also moved in this month and Wellington Square’s management team wanted to improve access to the main car park – making it a safer place too.

Knight Frank, the leading property estate agents managing the site on behalf of Stockton Borough Council, turned to Middlesbrough-based Wells CRS to help.

Matt Boxall, Wellington Square’s centre manager, said: “With our footfall rising there needs to be more ways to access the car park.

“There has been a good 12 per cent increase in footfall since 2021 and with more economic growth expected in the area those figures are going to get stronger and stronger.”

Wells CRS director David Murphy with Knight Frank’s Claire Hardy (Office Manager), Matt Boxall (Centre Manager) and Chantal Taylor (Marketing Manager) at Wellington Square, Stockton. Pictures: Knight Frank

The main stairwell will also have work from Stockton Arts Centre and Tees Women Poets showcased.

Anti-social behaviour

As well as upgrading the main stairwell at the car park, the two that have reopened have also had improvements designed to combat anti-social behaviour.

Wells CRS have installed blue LED lighting believed to affect people’s behaviour in the stairwells – something that has previously been used in places such as Gatwick Airport.

The internal view of the stairwell highlighting the blue LED lights

The car park has had a large problem with anti-social behaviour in the past and improvements have also included the installation of upcycled fire doors from the Castlegate Shopping Centre, freshly painted walls and staircases.

Matt said: “We have put in the protective lighting to reduce the anti-social behaviour because we have wanted to make the car park a safer environment for visitors.

Impression

“We have had incidents of breaking and entering, rough sleeping and even some thinking it is fine to use the stairwells at toilets.

“We are adding more security patrols as well because we want people coming to Stockton for the first time and leaving with a great first impression.”

Two of three stairwells now in use were previously used as emergency exits.

The upcycled door entrance to the stairwell

Wells CRS director David Murphy said: “The stairwells have attracted other problems over the years and we have helped to make these a safer environment for the general public.

“For example, there was also an issue with the glass doors being smashed so we have upcycled the solid core fire doors that were no longer needed elsewhere. The new stairwells allow for quicker access to the Globe Theatre.

“As well as upcycling where we can, we are also installing long life LED fittings to help cut down on electricity costs.

“The work we have carried out is part of a wider relationship we have with Stockton Council and Knight Frank and forms part of the upgrade of the Wellington Square Car Park.”

Carbon footprint

Wells CRS recently created a new management suite for Wellington Square and have regularly transformed units for tenants at the centre – helping Knight Frank to reduce their carbon footprint.

Matt added: “We pride ourselves on using local suppliers and trades to help us achieve that. “We have worked in partnership with Wells CRS for more than two years. From a sustainability point of view, Wells, Knight Frank and Stockton Borough Council are aligned with sustainability and carbon neutral goals.”