A planning application to extend and improve the visitor centre at Guisborough Forest and Walkway has been submitted by Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council.
The Council has pulled together the proposals to help improve the visitor experience at the popular centre and to drive local economic growth, improve infrastructure, and increase community access to green spaces.
The extension would improve the existing cafe, upgrade toilet facilities, and install air source heat pumps and PV panels.
If planning permission is granted, the first phase will commence with funding from Government.
Future phases that can be rolled out include improvements to the exterior of the building as well as providing more educational opportunities by revamping the underutilised central section of the building to facilitate year-round activities and workshops. This would be subject to future funding.
The proposals also complement the plans to introduce an active travel route – a path where people will be able to walk, run, cycle, wheelchair or scoot – between Nunthorpe and Guisborough, joining one end of the walkway.
Cllr Lynn Pallister, Cabinet Member for Growth and Enterprise at the Council, said:
"Guisborough Forest and Walkway is such a popular and much-loved space for families and local residents, and we have a great opportunity here to really improve the space to make it even better for them.
“But we also want to bring in more visitors from further afield. These improvements will bring more passing trade for the café, but it will also introduce our beautiful, unspoilt woods to more visitors, and provide a gateway to the stunning moorland and national park which is right on our doorstep.”
For more information on Guisborough Regeneration Programme, please visit: https://redcarcleveland.uk.engagementhq.com/