A MAJOR redevelopment of the Grade II listed Redcar Central Station will see this historic railway building at the heart of the town centre restored to its former glory.
Conservation works to transform it from an empty, dilapidated building into a vibrant, more welcoming gateway to the town are planned, enabling it to function as both a leisure and retail hub as well as a key transport link, providing rail facilities including ticket machines, travel information and covered waiting areas.
£5.950m from the TVCA Growth Zone and Investment Funds has been allocated to the project to deliver the refurbishment of the building, making it fully accessible to all and including improvements to the public areas outside.
Despite being a Victorian building, there will be a focus on sustainability, using electricity only and installing renewable energy systems; solar panels will be positioned out of sight, in line with aims to preserve the traditional style of the building.
The project will be welcomed by Redcar Central’s existing users and an increase in commuters and visitors is expected as post-Covid travel and train timetables continue to normalise, along with an aspiration to bring direct London services to Redcar in the future once established from Middlesbrough.
The hourly Transpennine service to and from Manchester Airport already serves Redcar Central, providing direct connections to towns and cities across the north of England.
Public consultation is expected to occur this summer with construction works beginning in April 2023 for an estimated opening in early 2025.
Councillor Chris Gallacher, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, said:
“There are ambitious plans in development for a whole range of improvements to the Redcar area as part of the Town Deal and Coatham Leisure schemes.
“The Redcar Central Station refurbishment will benefit the town and wider borough in a number of ways, not only providing a new leisure and retail facility to be proud of within the station itself, but also by means of creating jobs for local people throughout the construction phase, in the running of the station and as part of the businesses which will base themselves there.
“Existing local businesses will benefit from the increased visitor numbers using the revitalised station too. It is a further significant development for the town and will provide another fitting gateway to the wider borough.”
If you are interested in a space in the finished project, please contact Gavin Black of Naylors Gavin Black on 0191 230 2777 or 07712 868655. Alternatively, please email gavinb@naylorsgavinblack.co.uk
Images courtesy of Howarth Litchfield Architects.