Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council submitted two bids yesterday, totalling nearly £40 million, to the next round of the Government’s levelling up fund.
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.
The round two bids build upon feedback from the Government on two of last year’s unsuccessful round one bids. A decision on whether the bids have been successful is expected to be made by the Government in the autumn.
The two bids include:
Redcar constituency bid
- £7.967m to help deliver the retail and commercial regeneration of Eston
- £7.3m to help deliver a new pool for Eston and wider regeneration of the site
- £4.712m 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
- £15.013m 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
- £0.175m to develop a business case to deliver a transport hub at Guisborough/Nunthorpe focusing on rail and sustainable transport
- £4.812m for the Newham Grange highway scheme (B1365) to help unlock the site for additional housing.
Cllr Chris Gallacher, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, explained:
“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 place in East Cleveland and Redcar and illustrate to residents that the Council is also committed to levelling up right across Redcar and Cleveland.”