'Balamory' style makeover in Redcar scrapped

Plans to give 14 seaside properties in Redcar a ‘Balamory’ style makeover using more than £250,000 of Government Town Deal funding have been scrapped.

Redcar and Cleveland Council said the “colourful facelift” intended for terraced houses in Newcomen Terrace would not proceed as not all the owners had agreed for their buildings to be painted, meaning the effect would only be piecemeal.

Last month the Local Democracy Reporting Service revealed that a contract issued by the council for the scheme, which included repairs to rendering and pipework, amounted to £253,951 with a £30,000 contingency on top to cover unforeseen costs.

The aim had been to create an “attractive, vibrant and welcoming streetscape” at the beginning of a key approach into the town centre.

The money allocated will now support improvements being made to Redcar High Street and the surrounding area with new paving, planters and trees, and lighting upgrades, as well as the building of a new cultural and leisure attraction offering entertainment for families, including tenpin bowling, mini golf, laser tag and climbing walls, and housing a new library.

Meanwhile, similar ‘public realm’ improvements planned in Station Road, which runs from the train station to the Regent cinema on the seafront, including resurfacing footpaths, new tree planting and lighting have fallen foul of inflation, which has made materials and labour more expensive, and will be dropped.

In 2022 it emerged that plans to redevelop dilapidated terraced properties in Station Road, providing new apartments and commercial space, which were to be funded by the Town Deal had been shelved because of inflationary pressures, meaning they could not be delivered within an allocated budget.

A council spokeswoman said: “To keep within budget, the Redcar Town Deal board has been forced to make some tough decisions to reduce costs.”

A proposed illuminated feature light along the centre of the High Street, which was to recognise Redcar’s link with the Plimsoll line used by ships all over the world, also won’t now proceed.

Catherine Clennettt, who chairs the Town Deal board, said: “Unfortunately, we have not been immune to the steeply rising costs associated with major projects and we have had to take some decisions we would not have wished to. 

“However, the board is hopeful that the projects which cannot now go ahead can be revisited in the future through alternative funding.”

The board, which is made up of local business people, elected representatives and other prominent figures in the town, has the task of drawing up projects to utilise the £25m worth of Town Deal funding secured in 2021.

‘Transformative projects becoming a reality’

Mrs Clennett said work in the town centre would provide a “focal point” for visitors, bringing prosperity to the area, while the planned “transformative projects” were becoming a reality.

An update from the council said the demolition of the former Marks & Spencer and Goodwins buildings in the High Street previously secured by the local authority in order to make way for the new entertainment venue and library and adjoining public space linking to the Esplanade would start at the end of the month.

Last week Andrew Carter, the council’s assistant director of growth and enterprise, told a council scrutiny committee that “significant” amounts of asbestos had been found in the buildings, suggesting that this is why the site had remained barriered off for several months.

The council spokeswoman said: “The asbestos removal is now complete at the former M&S and Goodwins buildings. 

“Now the site has been made safe, the strip out of the building is taking place which will facilitate the major demolition works.”

Council leader Alec Brown said: “The upcoming work on the major Redcar Town Deal projects will build on significant regeneration which has taken place in the town already. 

“The Regent and the playpark and adventure golf course at Coatham are complete and work will start soon on Redcar Central Station.

 “I joined the Redcar Town Deal board in May and it’s been frustrating to see them having to reduce the scale of some of the projects after a couple of tough economic years nationally.”