Member Article

Redcar residents invited to explore potential £3.5m Kirkleatham skills scheme

Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council is inviting people to view plans for a potential £3.5m Walled Garden and Catering Academy, planned for the Kirkleatham Estate.

Funded with £1.1m from the Coastal Communities Fund so far, a further £2.4m is being bid from the Local Growth Fund to realise the development.

The project is anticipated to create 100 training places and a further 40 jobs, according to the council.

The Kirkleatham Estate houses the Kirkleatham Museum & Grounds, which attracts over 100,000 visitors per year, as well as Kirkleatham Hall School, the owl centre, private businesses, and heritage gems such as St. Cuthbert’s Church and mausoleum.

Councillor Dale Quigley, cabinet member for economic growth at Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, said: “From the very beginning of this project we wanted to ensure that Redcar and Cleveland residents, particularly those local to Kirkleatham Village, could be involved as much as possible.

“The Walled Garden will increase the numbers of visitors enjoying the estate and the Catering Academy and horticulture site will play a major role in providing training for our young people.

A special drop-in session will be hosted on Thursday 9 February, 3.30pm – 6pm, in the estate’s educational suite (next to the pavilion), where locals can see plans in further detail.

Cllr Quigley added: “Thursday 9 February will be the latest opportunity for local people to have their say on the project, and I would urge them to come along and let us know what they think about the plans.”