Work under way to restore station to 'former glory'

The building will be fully accessible with ticket machines and a waiting area

The redevelopment of a Grade II listed Victorian railway station is under way.

Conservation work will see the empty, dilapidated building at Redcar Central restored with shops and a waiting area.

The work will take more than a year to complete, and it has been funded by a number of organisations and the government's Levelling Up Fund.

Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen said: “This vital work will restore Redcar station to its former glory and encourage even more people to visit Redcar."

Despite it being a listed Victorian building, there will be a focus on sustainability with solar panels installed, although they will be positioned out of sight.

Platforms will remain open but there will be some disruption around the station while the work is being carried.

The project was approved in 2022 at a reported cost of £5.9m, and work was expected to begin in 2023 but was delayed.

'Beautiful building'

Lynn Pallister, cabinet member at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, said she was delighted visitors would get a more welcoming first impression of the town.

"In recent years we have developed some amazing leisure facilities such as a mini-golf course and a children’s play park on the seafront," she said.

She added it was "an exciting time for the area", which would "encourage many more visitors”.

Architect Neil Turner, from Howarth Litchfield, said the conversion would bring "life and vitality" back to the building.

"We were delighted to win the commission for the conversion of this beautiful building which had fallen into disrepair and to contribute to the improvement of the town centre," he added.

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