REDCAR AND CLEVELAND NEWS
Green light for seafront family attraction and town centre improvements
Redcar ’ s Town Deal has taken another step forward with two major projects being granted planning permission .
Redcar and Cleveland Council ’ s regulatory committee approved plans for a new family attraction , which could include bowling and VR games , depending on the operator .
It is hoped the development will transform Redcar ’ s High Street and Esplanade and create a new outdoor events space .
The former M & S building and Goodwins will be demolished this spring and construction will begin in the summer .
More indoor cultural and leisure activities and events will be on offer , helping Redcar become a year-round destination .
CGI PICTURES SHOW GROUND-BREAKING RENEWABLE ENERGY PLANT
First images of a ground-breaking lowcarbon plant to be built at Teesworks have been unveiled .
Circular Fuels has lined up a cutting-edge fuel-from-waste facility for land at Dorman Point – with 250 construction jobs and more than 50 skilled roles in the offing , and dozens more indirect jobs to come from the feedstock supply and fuels offtake supply chain .
When it ’ s fully up and running , the £ 150m plant will be able to produce 50,000 tonnes of fuel per year by converting nonrecyclable household and industrial waste into a safe , cost-effective , and clean-burning fuel .
This renewable fuel – called renewable and recycled carbon dimethyl ether ( DME ) – has similar properties to liquified petroleum gas ( LPG ) and can be stored in cylinders and tanks .
Images and a fly-through show the scale of the plant which will sit on a 14-acre site on the 140-acre Dorman Point area .
It will also be carbon capture ready so , when established , it has the potential to link into Net Zero Teesside , which is being spearheaded by bp , and the wider CCUS infrastructure .
Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen said : “ Thousands of good-quality , well-paid green jobs are on their way and this project underlines our efforts to make Teesside a green engine to power the country ’ s net zero ambitions .”
Circular Fuels is backed and majority owned by Dimeta , a joint-venture between SHV Energy and UGI International – two of the world ’ s biggest ( LPG ) companies – and sustainable energy solutions firm KEW Technology .
The plant is set to be operational in 2025 .
Energy giant invests in future green skills
Youngsters looking to build careers in the low-carbon sector could be given a step up the ladder after 20 paid scholarship opportunities were announced .
Energy giant bp has teamed up with Redcar and Cleveland College to offer 20 school leavers the chance to earn while they learn on a bespoke two-year engineering programme that will specialise in green skills .
Delivered at the college ’ s all-new Clean Energy Education Hub , due to open this spring , the Teesside Clean Energy Technician scholarship programme will come with a £ 100 weekly term-time allowance .
To register your interest in the scholarship programme , email bpscholarships @ cleveland . ac . uk .
154 | Tees Business
Wilton office move for international law firm
International law firm Womble Bond Dickinson ( WBD ) has expanded its presence in Teesside by moving into a larger office at the Wilton Centre , near Redcar .
WBD ’ s new offices are adjacent to the Wilton International site , one of the key areas comprising Teesside ’ s industrial cluster and part of the Teesside Freeport .
In late January , WBD moved into a larger and more vibrant working environment providing enhanced collaborative and client workspaces , facilities and technologyenabled rooms .
The Wilton Centre , which recently underwent a multi-million-pound refurbishment , is one of the UK ’ s leading locations for research and development facilities and high-specification office space .
EMPLOYMENT HUB PLANNING PERMISSION APPROVED
Redcar and Cleveland Council ’ s regulatory committee has approved plans to demolish existing buildings in Temperance Square , Loftus , and build a new , single-storey employment and skills hub .
The aim is to reduce unemployment in East Cleveland , encourage new business start-ups and increase the number of training and skills courses on offer .
The building will be purpose-built for training and working with relevant partners , such as Jobcentre Plus and Beyond Housing .
A total of £ 1.8m of the Future High Streets Fund has been dedicated to this scheme , as well as £ 760,000 from the Indigenous Growth Fund administered by Tees Valley Combined Authority .