300 jobs to be created in plans for £150m Tees Valley steelworks demolition project

Plans for a £150m demolition project which could create 300 jobs in the North East have been revealed today.

Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, has announced plans for a programme of demolition work across the Teeswork site.

The £150m project, which will take place over the next five years, will see structures such as the Redcar Blast Furnace and Coke Ovens being demolished.

The project will also see the demolition of the Redcar Raw Materials Handling Facility, Sinter Plant and Power Station, Lackenby Steelmaking Plant and Coil Plate Mill Complex, South Bank Coke Ovens and Grangetown Torpedo Ladle Repair Facility.

Work on the project is expected to begin in March next year, creating up to 300 jobs over the course of the program.

Mayor Houchen commented: “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.”

Councillor Mary Lanigan, leader of Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, said: “We are all excited about the potential of this world class site and the huge opportunities we have to attract investment from around the world to Teesworks.

“But, of course, there is a real pang in the heart at the thought of such an iconic part of our skyline and steel-making heritage vanishing. Making iron and steel has been fundamental to our identity for generations - it’s in our blood.
“Nearly everyone from this area has a family history involving steel-making and is fiercely proud of it. I am certainly no different and we are all proud that steel-making does remain here in the borough.

“However, we must concentrate on building a prosperous future and preparing this massive industrial site for a range of new, cutting edge industries is a crucial part of that challenge. Making iron and steel was a new industry once and we became world-beaters. We can do that again with the industries of the future.”