Bishop Auckland Mayor Sam Zair welcomed funding for STACK

The cash injection of £2 million promised by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and Durham County Council will be used to help stabilise the neighbouring Shoe Zone building, which has been at the centre of delays and frustration on Newgate Street.

The property, which has stood empty since last year, was boarded up this week after police were called to an incident of criminal damage that saw an already smashed windowpane fall from its frame.

The vacant Shoezone building on Newgate Street has been cordoned off and boarded up after criminal damage to its window (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) Now Mayor Sam Zair has said the new funding will keep the regeneration project on track after months of uncertainty.

He said: “Like so many others, I can’t wait to see Stack open its doors, we are grateful for the funding from Kim McGuinness and the Combined Authority to ensure the STACK will open in Bishop Auckland.

“We now just want them to crack on and get it up and running as it will be an absolutely amazing thing for this town and will help bring this part of the town up again bringing people to the area and increasing footfall.”

Lesley and Sam Zair outside his cafe in Bishop Auckland (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) The Mayor, who runs a business in the town, said the STACK development is essential to reversing years of decline on Bishop Auckland’s high street.

“This is an issue out of everyone’s hands now. Retailers aren’t renewing as their leases come to the end and landlords have control of the prices they are charging. I run a business myself so I know how difficult it can be out there.

“Evening, daytime and tourism economy are vital to Bishop Auckland to keep it thriving and we hope this stack will bring even more of this to the town,” he added.

Newgate Street in Bishop Auckland (Image: STUART BOULTON) Mr Zair said the town had already proved it could attract visitors with cultural projects like Kynren and the Auckland Project but needed more investment to build momentum.

He added: “It is always exciting when new investment comes to the town and we want to welcome more of it. We have great tourism spots like Kynren and the Auckland Project that bring people to the town and hopefully when this opens it will snowball and encourage others to come and invest in the town.

“It is a great place to come and invest and we want to show everyone that it can be a centre of excellence.”

The scaffolding securing the Shoezone building up at the STACK site in Bishop Auckland (Image: STUART BOULTON) The Shoe Zone building has long been a stumbling block for progress. Structural movement forced work on STACK to be halted back in March, with the site now propped up by scaffolding while monitoring continues.

It is hoped the venue will finally open by spring 2026.

Mayor of Bishop Auckland, Sam Zair (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO) Mr Zair added that the town needed to look forward after years of setbacks and closures.

He said: “We are all sick of hearing businesses closing we want to hear about new businesses opening to grow the town centre again especially after the obvious decline after Covid and the Mr Amazon that is a huge bearing on all towns especially small ones like Bishop Auckland.

“But, above all I would like to see the town overcome this and to thrive as a town centre where people are proud of their town. If it brings a sense of pride it will also bring a sense of positivity. A place where people will want to go and want to invest in.”

Durham County Council confirmed it had secured the site of Shoezone and was continuing talks with the owner.

Graham Wood, the council’s economic development manager, said: “We remain in ongoing discussions with the owner about how we can work together to complete these necessary repairs and ensure the property is structurally sound.

“This will allow works to resume at nearby developments and help to bring the empty property back into use, which is one of our key priorities as we aim to revitalise the county’s high streets.”