Teesworks park and ride given green light by committee
More than 1,500 vehicles will be able to park at the site
Last updated 2nd Mar 2023
A new Teesworks park and ride scheme to serve thousands of workers has been given the go-ahead, meaning building work can now accelerate.
The 35-acre site, located near the former SSI Steel House, Redcar, will see parking for more than 1,500 vehicles.
The hub will also host shuttlebuses from the car park to Teesworks projects in a bid to keep congestion to a minimum both on-site and on the wider road network.
The car park will be used by workers as development ramps up on major projects including Net Zero Teesside Power which will create up to 5,500 jobs during its construction and the SeAH Wind offshore wind monopile facility.
The site is bound by the former car park at the Steel House offices, north of the A1085 trunk road, and south of the Tees Valley Railway Line. Electric Vehicle charging points, cycle spaces, bus shelters and spaces for motorcycles are part of the plans.
Access would be via a new signal-controlled junction off the A1085 – with a new slip road also provided as part of proposals. Planning Officials at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council had recommended the plans for approval ahead of the meeting.
The Committee had previously deferred their decision in February before giving the green light at a Regulatory Committee meeting on Thursday morning (2 March).
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said:
“Today is another step forward to achieving our vision for the Teesworks site.
“As we begin our year of construction it is vital that we put in place the infrastructure that will help link local people to the well-paid jobs that are coming to the site. But this is what we are about, and we are about getting things done.
“It was again frustrating to see that Labour voted against it. There’s a pattern from the Labour Party here. They tried to close the airport. They tried to close the freeport, the objected to the Treasury moving to Darlington, last week they blocked £18m investment for Middlesbrough town centre and now they are continuing their efforts by trying to halt progress Teesworks – all at the expense of local people who just want to access good quality jobs.”
Simon Clarke MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland added:
“This is a really important win.
“If we want people in East Cleveland to be able to access good new jobs at Teesworks, the Park and Ride is essential.
“In the week Middlesbrough Labour voted against the Mayoral Development Corporation to regenerate our town centre, to see Redcar and Cleveland Labour voting against another positive proposal at Teesworks beggars belief. Thankfully this time common sense has won out.”
Redcar MP Jacob Young said:
“We have a plan to create 18,000 jobs on the Teesworks site, having secured our Freeport and over £200 million of investment direct from Government.
“The fact Labour are yet again trying to stand in the way and block progress shows how far they have gone from representing Teessiders.”
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