Mayor Issues Latest Contract For Teesworks Which Could Create 30 Jobs

Just a week after publishing tenders for a £150million programme of demolition work across the Teesworks site, Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has issued another multi-million contract for the site – which could create a further 30 local jobs for local workers on site.

The £5million contract for a further 40-acres of the newly named Dorman Point zone, known locally as the Grangetown Prairie site, will see general site clearance, major earthworks, processing of excavated materials for re-use onsite, demolition of minor buildings and other structures and the removal of local areas of contaminated ground for separate treatment outside the area.

In total 1 million tonnes of material will be excavated and reprocessed from the Dorman Point zone as part of a second phase on work to make it ready for investment and job creation.

In May Mayor Houchen announced that Hartlepool-based Seymour Civil Engineering would carry out the first phase of remediation work at the Dorman Point zone.

The news of a new contract is just the latest to be announced for the former Redcar steelworks site.

Along with the £150million contract to demolish some of the most iconic pieces of steelmaking infrastructure on the Teesside skyline, work that could create 300 jobs, over the last few weeks Mayor Houchen has also unveiled contracts across the site, including one to demolish a large industrial tank farm in South Bank that will support up to 25 construction jobs, along with a £1.5million contract to demolish various former steelworks assets at both Redcar and South Bank which will support approximately 50 jobs.

Mayor Houchen also revealed that a contract to upgrade the sites electricity infrastructure to a heavy duty, industrial scale electricity network is out to tender and encouraged local companies to apply.

It can also be announced today that planning permission has been granted to start construction of a new roundabout and improve access from Eston Road in South Bank to the Dorman Point zone of the Teesworks site. Construction work on the £1.5million investment will start next month and provide faster and easier access to more than 120 acres of prime developable land.

This major stepping stone will create 40 construction jobs.

Mayor Houchen said: “The contract that I am announcing today is just the latest on the Teesworks site that is creating local jobs for local workers.

“We have a hugely talented workforce right on our doorstep, unfortunately too many contractors from across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool have had to work away from Teesside and their families. Now that we have full control of the land at Teesworks, we’re not resting on our loreals, these jobs mean more local people will be able work closer to home and not have the costs associated with working away for long periods of time – meaning more money in their pockets for them and their families. Something that is even more important in these difficult times.

“As we recover from the unprecedented impact of the Coronavirus we’re getting on and putting the building blocks in place that will deliver real investment and real jobs for the people of Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool as part of my plan for jobs.

“Diggers are already on site across the Teesworks site, Darlington-based Hall Construction, Hartlepool-based Seymour Civil Engineering and Redcar-based CW Russell, who are located just yards away from the site, are all onsite helping us transform the site for the benefit of everyone.

“The redevelopment of the Teesworks site will transform our region, as part of this transformation it is critical that local firms are part of the process so I would urge companies across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool to bid for these contracts. Companies interested in bidding on contract should register their interest on www.Teesworks.co.uk”

Jacob Young, Conservative MP for Redcar, said: “With fresh announcements for the Teesworks site coming almost every week, there is an exciting sense of genuine progress on-site and of ever increasing momentum for the project as a whole. This latest £5million programme will see the Prairie Site cleared, opening up a further 40 acres up for development and creating 30 jobs immediately.

“Over the course of this year, some of our region’s most iconic historic structures will be removed to make way for our regional rejuvenation, as part of a £150 million demolition programme.

“I believe it is important that we still preserve some aspects of our history and I will be working to secure some specific of our heritage, like the Dorman Long Tower, providing it is safe to do so.

“There are still those who want to talk down our region and refuse to acknowledge the massive strides that continue to be made, but we will continue to press ahead in our mission to bring about a brighter future for Teesside.”

Councillor Mary Laningan, Leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, said: “The transformation of this world-class industrial zone is vitally important to the people of Redcar and Cleveland and Teesside as a whole.

“This latest contract only demonstrates the widespread opportunities that will be available for our local businesses.

“By unlocking the site’s full potential to investors in the UK and around the world, it will bring thousands of jobs to our first-rate workforce and prosperity to families across Teesside.”