Revitalizing Stockton-on-Tees: Insights from the Sycamores Housing Development

The redevelopment of Stockton-on-Tees has taken a significant step forward with the Sycamores housing project, offering 143 high-quality homes just north of the town centre. This ambitious initiative aimed to breathe new life into the area by promoting economic activity and bolstering the town’s appeal. Visitor Insights, leveraging its intuitive TERAIN platform, played a critical role in evaluating the success of this initiative.

A Data-Driven Approach to Measuring Success

The Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council sought tangible evidence to determine the Sycamores development’s impact on local businesses, the economy, and community engagement. Visitor Insights provided exactly that. By utilizing their Resident Analysis module, a bespoke analysis was conducted based on residents’ movement data gathered from mobile devices.

This robust 20-page report offered unprecedented insights, showcasing the extent to which the Sycamores initiative bolstered the local economy and enriched the night-time economy, including increased activity at cafes, bars, and restaurants. TERAIN’s user-friendly platform allowed the council to pinpoint patterns and analyse trends with precision.

Key Findings

1. Dramatic Increases in Visits to Town Centres:
   • Visits by Sycamores residents to Stockton town centre soared by 345% compared to 2022 and 82% compared to 2023.
   • Nearby town centres like Norton and Yarm also experienced increased foot traffic, with year-over-year (YoY) changes of 60% and 49%, respectively.
2. Positive Impact on Local Businesses:
   • The report identified significant growth in visits to food and beverage establishments. For example:
     • The Castle & Anchor Pub saw a 191% increase in visits YoY.
     • Carpaccio Bar Restaurant and The Riverbank Pub experienced surges of 157% and 154%, respectively.
3. Extended Dwell Time:
   • Residents spent more time in the town centre, with dwell times rising by 46% compared to 2022 and 40% compared to 2023.

How TERAIN Made the Difference

Visitor Insights’ TERAIN platform enabled the Stockton Council to assess the Sycamores development’s success with clarity and confidence. Through intuitive filters like time-of-day analysis and location-specific data, the council could track patterns such as the increase in evening visits (6 PM to midnight) from 2023 to 2024.

This data-driven approach offered actionable insights, empowering the council to validate the development’s impact and inform future urban planning initiatives. According to Michael Evans, Senior Business Partner for Strategic Planning at Stockton Borough Council, “The information provided gives an in-depth insight into how high-quality housing complements the regeneration of Stockton town centre and neighbouring areas.”

Resilience in the Face of Unrest

The town’s remarkable summer unfolded against a backdrop of significant challenges. Violent protests involving nearly 1,000 people erupted in Blackpool and other towns following misinformation about the suspect in the Southport knife attacks. Despite this, the community rallied to deliver a memorable summer season.

The Way Forward

The success of the Sycamores development underscores the importance of integrating quality housing into town centre regeneration projects. As Stockton-on-Tees continues its transformation, the role of data-driven insights in urban planning will only grow in significance.

Visitor Insights and TERAIN have not just provided a means of evaluation but have equipped Stockton Council with a framework to replicate this success across future developments. The Sycamores case study is a shining example of how informed decision-making can lead to tangible benefits for local economies and communities.

Want to see how data-driven insights can help your organization achieve its goals? Contact us today or explore more about the TERAIN platform and Visitor Insights.