Redcar Beach Base

The Coastal Activity Hub – a soon-to-be exciting new facility on Redcar’s seafront – is currently in the last stage of construction.

From today though, the toilets at the facility are open to the public! There are four male, four female and two accessible toilets, and anyone can use them, even if you’re just passing by.

The rest of the facility will still be closed while the operator fits out the container buildings and the final touches are made until the expected opening day at Easter time. All building work externally has finished though, so the loos are safe to use.

Once the rest of the attraction is open, it will become a place for friends and family to meet for a coffee, and watch and partake in sporting and leisure activities right on the coast.

The ambition is to host national and regional competitions such as triathlon, rowing and cycling events.

The hub will also offer the opportunity for local organisations to host a range of their own activities and events. It could be used as a meeting place and an informal base for clubs and school groups, and will have showers, lockers, an equipment store and changing rooms.

AN OPERATOR has been announced for Redcar’s Coastal Activity Hub.

Imaginative Productions – the operator behind Scream Factory and the Café at Kirkleatham Museum – won the tender process.

This means the Coastal Activity Hub near Majuba Car Park, which will have two provisionally licenced food and beverage units, is on schedule to open in spring 2024.

British Triathlon, British Rowing and British Cycling - the National Governing Bodies for their respective sports – have all endorsed the project with a vision of bringing community activities and local, regional, and national competitions to the hub, including the Go Tri series.

Tom Tate, Business Manager, said:

“We at Imaginative Productions are genuinely honoured to have been granted the tenancy of the Coastal Activity Hub. This is a momentous opportunity for us to contribute to the community and to enhance the coastal experience for locals and visitors alike.

“We are committed to this project and the positive impact it will have on the area.”

The hub will soon offer the opportunity for local organisations to host a range of exciting activities, sports and events. The unique shipping container village will be used as a meeting place and an informal base for clubs, school groups, activity leaders, families, and groups of friends.

Facilities for the Coastal Activity Hub will include a range of indoor and outdoor multi-use spaces, public toilet facilities, showers, lockers, an equipment store, changing facilities and parking as well as provisionally licenced food and beverage units.

The external space adjacent to the container village will form a flexible event area that could be used for a range of outdoor activities, such as exercise classes, sports, and demonstrations. It could also provide space for an event village, from which competitions could start and finish, including running festivals and triathlons.

The total cost of the project is £880,000 with £855,000 being met by the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority and £25,000 via the Redcar Town Deal, funded by the UK Government.

The Redcar Town Deal is led by a group of industry experts, business leaders, and community representatives, who have volunteered to support the regeneration of Redcar. Alongside the Council, they have helped develop large-scale regeneration plans on how to make Redcar a vibrant, sustainable town.

Catherine Clennett, Chair of the Redcar Town Deal Board, said:

“The Coastal Activity Hub is an extremely exciting development for the people of Redcar and surrounding areas. The Redcar Town Deal Board are looking forward to seeing the facility open in the spring and seeing local people benefit from the refreshment offer and events that take place. We are extremely pleased Imaginative Productions will be working with the council events teams to bring an inclusive range of activities to suit all ages and abilities within our local community.”

Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor, said:

“Redcar has been crying out for another top-class facility on its coast and I’m delighted a proven performer has been chosen to operate the new hub.

“Boosting tourism and ensuring Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool have vibrant and worthwhile attractions is a big part of what we’re doing. I’m looking forward to it opening next year.”

Cllr Lynn Pallister, Cabinet Member for Growth and Enterprise at the Council, said:

“I’d like to congratulate Imaginative Productions on their appointment as the operator for what is going to be a fantastic attraction for local residents and visitors. The Hub will soon become the home for sports clubs and community groups as well as a place to host regional and national competitions.”

British Triathlon, British Rowing and British Cycling - the National Governing Bodies for their respective sports – have all endorsed the project with a vision of bringing community activities and local, regional, and national competitions to the hub, including the Go Tri series.

Local Active Partnership Tees Valley Sport has also offered its support – recognising the role that facilities play in driving participation.

The hub could offer the opportunity for local organisations to host a range of other exciting activities, sports and events such as beach volleyball, land yachting and running events, with local sports clubs and community groups already showing interest.

The Coastal Activity Hub will be located in a unique shipping container village that can be used as a meeting place and an informal base for clubs, school groups, activity leaders, families, or groups of friends.

Coatham beach and the surrounding area is currently used for a wide variety of coastal activities and the hub will provide a base for these existing groups and individuals.

Facilities for the Coastal Activity Hub will include a range of indoor and outdoor multi-use spaces, public toilet facilities, showers, lockers, an equipment store, changing facilities and parking. An accompanying catering offer will enhance the experience for visitors.

The external space adjacent to the container village will form a flexible event area that could be used for a range of outdoor activities, such as exercise classes, sports, and demonstrations.

It could also provide space for an event village, from which competitions could start and finish, including running festivals and triathlons.

All attempts will be made to keep disruption to a minimum on site as the site is already cordoned off for other works on Coatham, including the development of Play Park and the Adventure Golf Course.

This is part of the Coatham seafront masterplan, which aims to regenerate the seafront along Majuba Road to create a leisure-based destination. The new 100-space car park, which was recently built on the former Coatham Bowl site, will help mitigate demands for parking.

The total project cost of the project is £880,000 with £855,000 being met by the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority and £25,000 via the Redcar Town Deal.

The Redcar Town Deal is led by a group of industry experts, business leaders, and community representatives, who have volunteered to support the regeneration of Redcar. Alongside the Council, they have helped develop large-scale regeneration plans on how to make Redcar a vibrant, sustainable town.

Construction will take approximately six months, with a completion date set for November this year. An operator is currently being sought for the Coastal Activity Hub, which includes two provisionally licenced Food and Beverage units. Further information can be found on the Redcar Town Deal website.

Darren Winter, Chair of Redcar Town Board, said:

“The Coastal Activity Hub is fantastic news for Redcar. With British Cycling, British Rowing, British Triathlon and community groups already excited at the prospect of bringing new sporting activities and holding competitive sporting events, the Hub will be a unique tourist attraction to raise the profile of Redcar, make it a destination town for visitors and sportspersons and give visitors another reason to stay in the area longer, which we believe will support the growth of local businesses, particularly those in hospitality, retail and entertainment.”

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said:

“Cycling, rowing and water sports have always been huge in Redcar and helping to fund this project that will only see these, and other activities, grow. The facility has got the backing of national organisations, proving it will be top-quality and exactly what these sports need. It will bring more people into the town, spending in our brilliant local businesses while driving further visitors and giving local people a hub, they’ve been crying out for.”

Cllr Lynn Pallister, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth at the Council, said:

"This is going to be an amazing attraction for tourists, but it will also be a great place for local sports clubs to meet, which will encourage entertainment and events. We’re so pleased work has started, and very soon people will see a huge transformation to the Coatham area, restoring pride in the local community and providing a great place for friends and family to gather and spend time.”

Nigel Hornsby, Chairman of Redcar Triathlon Club, said:

“The development of the activity hub at Majuba makes our sport and club so much more accessible. This facility will open so many doors for enhancing the club offer for members and potential new ones as well as allowing facilities for events that will support the sustainability and growth of the club.

“Our enthusiastic committee and membership look forward to being involved and coordinating future events like go-tri, open water swimming, duathlons and the like from a base specifically designed for that purpose. The hub also provides a safe environment to work from when running activities particularly during the winter months and dark nights. It's exciting to see what the future opportunities come about by developing relationships out of this hub.”

Mark Fishpool, Programme Director of Sport England funded ‘You’ve Got This’ said:

“Moving more as part of our daily lives is great for our physical health and mental well-being. The Coastal Activity Hub will provide even more opportunities for local people and visitors to enjoy being active along our fantastic coast.”

Coatham Masterplan

A coastal activity hub on Redcar’s seafront has been approved by Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council’s planning committee on Thursday 10 November.

The hub could offer a range of exciting activities, sports and events including windsurfing, kiteboarding, horse-riding, running, cycling and yoga.

It will be located in a unique shipping container village that can be used as a meeting place and an informal base for sports clubs/organisations, community groups, school groups, activity leaders, families, or groups of friends.

This is all part of the Redcar Town Deal, which is led by a group of industry experts, business leaders, and community representatives, who have volunteered to support the regeneration of Redcar.

Alongside Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, they have helped develop large-scale regeneration plans on how to make Redcar a vibrant, sustainable town.

Facilities for the Coastal Activity Hub will also include a range of indoor and outdoor multi-use spaces, toilets, showers, lockers, an equipment store, changing facilities and parking. An accompanying catering offer will enhance the experience for visitors.

The external space adjacent to the container village will form a flexible event area that could be used for a range of outdoor activities, such as exercise classes, sports, and demonstrations.

It could also provide space for an event village, from which competitions could start and finish, including running festivals and triathlons.

Now that planning has been approved, works will begin on site in the new year.

Darren Winter, Chair of Redcar Town Board, said:

“The Costal Activity Hub is an exciting project which with the work from the project team at the Council, has already secured support from British Triathlon and British Cycling to run competitive events. Along with Redcar’s existing competitive sports event offering, the Coastal Activity Hub, due for opening in summer 2023, will help make Redcar a destination competitive sports town.”

Cllr Chris Gallacher, Cabinet Member for Economic Development at the council, said:

“It’s great news that the Coastal Activity Hub has been approved, which will boost tourism and give our residents a fantastic facility to use all year round with the family.

“We’d like to thank everyone who took part in the consultation exercise before this went to planning, and we look forward to more conversations as the project develops.

“Working in partnership with the Redcar Town Board, we have an opportunity to deliver a number of projects to increase tourism and provide economic opportunities for our residents, not only in Redcar, but the wider borough.”