Bid to create 9,000 new Tees Valley jobs passes important hurdle

Planning permission has been granted to convert the former Redcar steelworks site – which Hartlepool workers are already helping to clear – into a 4.5million sq ft of state-of-the-art offshore wind centre.

Teeswork, which is overseeing the £390million-plus project, estimates that around 1,000 construction jobs will also be created over the next decade with the first tenants possibly moving in by 2022.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen welcomed the announcement, which came on Monday, December 7.

He said in a statement: “I’m delighted these game-changing plans have been approved.

"This is one of the biggest planning applications in the North of England and it will see a key part of the Teesworks site, that’s three times larger than the Amazon facility in Darlington, brought back to life.

“Teesside is already leading the way for the rest of the UK to follow with our clean energy plans, but this takes us to the next stage.

"This space will be used to manufacture offshore wind turbines and the new heavy lifting quay we announced last month will give ships and international firms easy access to be able to transport not only these turbines, but also all the other exciting projects and businesses that will be located on site.

“Redevelopment of the Teesworks site is a critical part of my plan for jobs, and already 557 local people from across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool are working onsite, including former steelworkers who until recently were working as contractors around the country, now they are back working close to home and putting more money in their pocket for them and their families.“These are exciting times at Teesworks with a hive of activity, local workers

returning to site and contracts being awarded to local firms.

"With the right plan, we are turning the site into a real hive of activity that people can be proud of again.”

The leader of Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, Councillor Mary Lanigan, added: “It’s all about doing what it takes to ensure the potential of the Teesworks site is fulfilled and it is pleasing to see hard work by so many organisations and individuals starting to pay off."

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