Construction begins on opening of key access point ready for investors

Work has today (December 19) begun on the construction of a £1millon roundabout scheme to open up a vital access to part of the South Tees Development Corporation site.

The scheme has been developed to meet the emerging needs of the South Tees Regeneration Programme and opens up strategic access to 350 acres of developable land. The scheme will also open up access to 1.3 kilometres of valuable river frontage, pivotal to the redevelopment of the site, offering the opportunity for a major increase in port capacity.

This is the first construction project to be delivered by the Development Corporation. It was originally developed by Redcar & Cleveland Council and is being funded by the Local Growth Fund through the Tees Valley Combined Authority.

The project will provide one of three strategic access points into the 4,500-acre site, as identified in the Development Corporation’s Master Plan. There is currently no direct highway access to the south of the site but this scheme will unlock a route to land primed for the first wave of investors, and is due to be completed by the summer of 2019. In time, the access will be upgraded to a ‘Gateway’ entrance to the development in keeping with the aspiration for world-class industrial space on South Tees.

The Master Plan, launched in October 2017, committed to seeing construction jobs on the UK’s single biggest development opportunity within 2018. This development will bring up to 50 construction jobs, plus supply chain opportunities for local companies. Local construction contractor Hall Construction Services has been appointed to deliver the scheme.

Cllr Sue Jeffrey, Leader of Redcar and Cleveland Council and Vice Chair of the South Tees Development Corporation, said: “This is a great first step on the long road that will bring jobs and investment to the South Tees Development Corporation. We’ve been working tirelessly to acquire land so we can push forward and deliver investments to the site, with an emphasis on well paid jobs for local people.

“In our discussions with potential investors it has been made clear that if we are to be successful in attracting new businesses then this site needs significant infrastructure investment. This is the first of that investment, and funding for this project has come from the Combined Authority but much more will be needed if we are to unlock the sites full development potential, including the waterfront in South Bank. I look forward to many more of these events in the future.”

Picture caption: (left to right) Phil Flett, Contracts Manager, Hall Construction – Steve Bromley, Business Development Manager, Hall Construction – Cllr Sue Jeffrey, Leader of Redcar and Cleveland Council – Darren Edmends, Project Manager, South Tees Development Corporation – Stephen Leyland, Project Manager, Driver Group