13.08.20
£150m of contracts announced for Redcar Steelworks demolition
Today (13 Aug) Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor, has revealed a £150m programme of demolition work across the vast site, including the Redcar Blast Furnace and Coke Ovens, which could create up to 300 jobs.
The programme is set to last five years and the contracts will see the demolition of some of the most well-known structures from the former steelworks which have been part of the Redcar skyline for many years.
Mayor Houchen is encouraging businesses in Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool to get involved and apply to be included on a list of providers for contract openings over the project’s duration.
Local businesses can apply now to be part of that list by visiting the newly-launched Teesworks website.
The contracts are not due to be awarded until December, with work beginning as early as March next year.
Locals are also being given the chance to have a tour around the site to explore the famous site before the work beings.
The nine structures that will be demolished as part of the programme are:
- Redcar Blast Furnace
- Redcar Coke Ovens
- Redcar Raw Materials Handling Facility
- Redcar Sinter Plant
- Redcar Power Station
- Lackenby Steelmaking Plant
- Lackenby Coil Plate Mill Complex
- South Bank Coke Ovens
- Grangetown Torpedo Ladle Repair Facility
Following the announcement, Mayor Houchen said: “Teesworks is a huge part of my plan for jobs to create good quality local jobs for local people, and this is another opportunity for local businesses to get involved in the work and the jobs we are creating, which is even more important as we bounce back from the coronavirus pandemic.
“More than 200 local jobs have already been created on the site, but as I said last month when we launched Teesworks, over the next year, we will go on to create hundreds more and this is not only the next stage of that plan, but the most significant so far, so it is a fantastic opportunity for businesses in Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.
“I recognise the demolition of these historic structures will be a bittersweet moment for many people in Redcar, especially to those former steelworkers and their families. That is why I am offering local people the chance to safely explore the site one last time before the demolition work begins.
“I have been inundated with people interested in taking a tour around the site, so I am delighted to be able to make this happen and give people a chance to learn more about the history of the site and make some final memories to treasure long after the buildings have gone.
“The Redcar steelworks is such a huge part of our history and even after it is gone, it is something we should be telling our children and grandchildren about. That is why I want to hear from people in Redcar on how we should keep the memories of it alive. It was their steelworks so they should have a say on how we remember it.”
Images: Tees Valley Combined Authority