History
ICI Billingham was a major chemical works in Billingham, County Durham, England. Established in the 1920s by Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI), the site was originally developed to produce ammonia and fertilisers to support British agriculture. It later expanded into manufacturing a wide range of chemicals, including plastics, explosives, and synthetic fuels.
During World War II, the site played a crucial role in producing explosives and synthetic petrol for the war effort. In the post-war period, Billingham became a hub for innovation, particularly in petrochemicals and plastics.
By the late 20th century, as ICI restructured and sold off various divisions, much of the Billingham site was taken over by other companies. Today, while ICI no longer exists (having been broken up in the early 2000s), parts of the site remain in use under different ownership, continuing its legacy in the chemical industry.
The former ICI Billingham site in Stockton-on-Tees is now known as Billingham Chemical Complex. Parts of the site are owned and operated by various companies, including CF Fertilisers, which continues fertiliser production, and Venator, which manufactures titanium dioxide pigments. The site remains an important industrial hub in the region, though it is no longer under ICI ownership.
