Disability work experience charity to rejuvenate Stockton building with lottery cash.

Vision 25 has planning approval to convert underused upper floors of its Stockton High Street building into classrooms, a studio and workshops to provide work‑experience for people with disabilities, and planning documents say the charity now owns the building and has significant lottery funding.

Vision 25 has been given permission to alter and bring into use the upper floors of its Stockton High Street building so it can provide work‑experience and life‑skills teaching for people with disabilities. The ground floor will remain in retail and café use while the first and second floors are planned for classrooms, a studio and a workshop. Work already began informally in January 2023, with one upper‑floor room used as an art studio and other areas used for storage. Planning documents describe proposed changes such as a balcony, handrail and glass balustrading, sliding folding doors to access a flat roof, and enlarging an opening to create a fire exit and ramp. Key details: - Vision 25 submitted a part‑retrospective planning application to convert retail storage into extended community use on upper floors. - The design and access statement says the charity aims to provide facilities for people with mental and physical disabilities to experience a work scenario. - Works described include installing a handrail, glass balustrade, sliding folding doors, removing a redundant door and ladder, and creating external access from the first floor. - Council planning officers reported the proposal complies with national and local policies, retains ground‑floor retail use, and supports town centre vitality. - Heritage impacts were described as minimal and the council's environmental health unit raised no objections; the report also notes significant lottery funding has been allocated and that Vision 25 has purchased the building. Summary: The council deemed the alterations acceptable and says bringing underused upper floors into active community use will support the charity's teaching and work‑experience plans. Undetermined at this time.