Plans for seaside town arena move forward

The site of the former Coatham Bowl is set to be regenerated

Plans for a 5,000-seat arena on the site of a historic music venue have moved forward.

After months of negotiations, Redcar's council has agreed terms to lease the former Coatham Bowl site to developers Coatham Arena Limited (CAL).

CAL chairman Frankie Wales said the agreement allowed the team to progress with a detailed planning application in the expectation of the venue opening by 2028.

Initial proposals were rejected by the council in 2022, but the current administration's Labour leader, Alec Brown, said the venture would create jobs and boost visitor numbers.

While plans for an arena on the site have been welcomed by many, some residents have highlighted concerns including a potential lack of parking provision, access issues and noise concerns.

And the previous council administration had outlined concerns including the impact on surrounding homes and the overall cost, with members questioning if public funding might be needed to deliver the plans.

CAL and the council said detailed terms and conditions regarding the leasing of the site were commercially sensitive.

However, a spokesman for CAL said the developers planned to pay for and provide a car park, with subsequent income from that to be shared with the council.

He said the local authority would not be required to contribute to capital or revenue costs and would receive annual rent "and the benefit of insurances, as well as business rates".

The council's leader has been a vocal supporter of the proposals and welcomed the latest developments.

Mr Brown said private investment would be the "driving force" behind getting the project to fruition.

"Our administration promised to support this project and we now have seen it through to a successful agreement on terms for leasing the land," he added.

Mr Brown said: "We wish CAL the best of luck in preparing their plans and, if successful, delivering this for the people of Redcar and Cleveland.

"I would like to assure residents that no public money will be involved."

The proposed location of the arena is the former Coatham Bowl site, which had a capacity of 900 people and hosted the likes Chris Rea, Whitesnake, Slade and Ozzy Osborne.

It later became Redcar Bowl and was demolished in 2014.