Council sets out ambition for round two of levelling up fund

Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council’s Cabinet are set to approve the preparation of two bids, to be put forward to the next round of the Government’s levelling up fund, when they meet on Tuesday, June 21.

The round two bids, which need to be submitted by July 6, build upon feedback from the Government on two of last year’s unsuccessful round one bids and include:

Redcar constituency bid

  • £8m to help deliver the retail and commercial regeneration of Eston
  • £8m to help deliver a new pool for Eston and wider regeneration of the site
  • £4m to deliver a cycle/footpath route linking the Teesworks site to Eston and the south of the borough and a cycle/footpath route linking Guisborough to Nunthorpe.

South Middlesbrough and East Cleveland bid

  • £13.7m to help deliver town centre and public realm improvements in Guisborough as well as improved accessibility to Teesworks and the North York Moors National Park
  • £1m to develop a business case to deliver a transport hub at Guisborough/Nunthorpe focusing on rail and sustainable transport
  • £5m for the Newham Grange highway scheme (B1365) to help unlock the site for additional housing.

Cllr Chris Gallacher, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, said:

“Following last year’s unsuccessful bids to the Levelling Up Fund the Council has acted upon feedback from civil servants and ensured the revised bids are more focused on the need for economic recovery and growth, improved transport connectivity and regeneration.

“The first bid illustrates a clear commitment to deliver major development and regeneration for the Greater Eston area as well as maximising the opportunities that the Teesworks development brings to the borough.

“The second, a joint bid with Middlesbrough, focuses on the regeneration of Guisborough and maximising the potential of the visitor economy in that area as well as the growth potential of the Teesworks development site.

“These schemes will help to compliment and build upon the regeneration and development already taking in East Cleveland and Redcar and illustrate to residents that this Cabinet is also committed to levelling up right across Redcar and Cleveland.”

Levelling Up is a key part of the Government’s ambitions and they have committed £4.8bn across the UK over a four-year period up to 2024-25 for areas like Redcar and Cleveland to fund capital investment and local infrastructure projects.

It is anticipated that a decision on the funding bids will be made by the Government in the autumn 2022.