Eston Precinct

Hello, at the public consultation event in September 2024 (open to all and local area leaflets also invited people), and subsequent information on Council social media and the web pages, it has been communicated that the existing precinct is to be fully demolished; and then a phase 1 area of up to 7 units built in replacement.  The project budget is being managed appropriately so there is no overspend as the cost of construction has risen greatly in recent times.  All local councillors and stakeholders have been briefed and the local media such as the Evening Gazette have ran stories stating a phase 1 area of up to 7 units will be built.  Thank you.

Hello, the Council is to build 7 new retail units at a total of 14,500sqft of space, and within a phase 1 development. Please see the plans and information on the main webpage for details.  However, planning permission is sought for 14 new units in total including for a phase 2 area of new space if future funding comes on line.

Hello, yes both sides of Eston Precinct will be demolished - only units 125/127 & 129 will be left (Michael Poole's and the tanning shop). Thank you.

Thank you for getting in touch.

The Council has undertaken due diligence with an external demand and impact assessment undertaken by a specialist retail agency; and have taken the project forward so that it can acquire and redevelop a new precinct with an appropriate mix of tenant businesses. The development will be phased so initially a phase 1 area of new retail units will be built first on the western side of the precinct. The Council can then review and decide upon if there is further demand for a phase 2 development to be built on the eastern side of the site. The local community has for a long time requested that the Council intervene and there is a strong business case standing behind the project.

Kind Regards,
Eston Levelling Up Project Team

Dear Marie,

Thank you for getting touch.

Please note that the Eston Precinct regeneration project is not cancelled, with demolition due to commence in May 2025. Businesses within the redevelopment area - including the gym - will be relocating to make way for the new development. Thank you.

Best regards,
Eston Levelling Up Project Team

Dear Dawn,

We did respond to your previous message via a direct response - please let us know if you did not receive this by contacting us at Eston.levellingup@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk, and we will be happy to respond.

In the meantime, we can confirm that the Council are still committed to the Eston Precinct project and currently in negotiations with various landowners to acquire the site to facilitate development.

Further updates will be provided as soon as the Council is in a position to confirm them.

Thank you.

Best wishes,
Eston Levelling Up Project Team

Dear Nadia,

Thank you for getting touch.

Although the nature of our negotiations remain confidential, we can state that positive progress is being made in the acquisition of remaining properties for Eston Precinct. While we appreciate frustration at the lack of public updates on this, please rest assured that we are doing everything possible to move the process along as quickly as possible. Thank you.

Best wishes,
Eston Levelling Up Project Team

Dear Gillian,

Thank you for getting in touch.

We’re currently negotiating with each of the Eston Precinct business owners so we can agree to acquire all the freehold interests in one go. Unfortunately, this takes time as there are various parties we need to agree a deal with, but we anticipate this should be concluded in May/June. Alongside this we’re designing the new retail shopping unit which we’ll need to secure Planning Permission for ahead of any demolition of the old Precinct and build of the new units.

We know this is a frustrating time for businesses and local people and are trying out utmost to agree acquisition as quickly as possible.

Please check back on the website for future updates on Eston Precinct. Thank you.

Best wishes,
Greater Eston Levelling Up Project Team

Thank you for your further enquiries on the Eston Precinct project we have broken your various questions down and respond as follows:

Whist the announcements for Levelling Up Funding (LUF) Round 2 were in January 2023, the Eston funding did not form part of that announcement. The Eston funding came separately as an additional batch of schemes under an additional fund called Capital Regeneration Projects, this was announced in the spring budget in March 2023. The council were not permitted to commence any works or expend any of the funding until a Memorandum of Understanding had been received and an inception meeting held and approved by the Department for Levelling Up Communities and Housing (DLUCH). This didn’t happen until August 2023. This was out of the Council’s control.

Once the Council was given the go ahead, we commenced with the procurement of the project and design teams. The initial team was appointed after a tender process and the remainder of the team appointed in the months after. Tendering takes place over a period of months to enable the tenderers are given sufficient time to submit best value tenders. This was followed by evaluations, authorisation and appointments; again, these all take time to undertake.

The design process follows RIBA Plan of Work guidance with initial stages commencing in November 2023. We are currently in RIBA stage 2 - concept design. At the end of detailed design - stage 3, we will commence the planning process and, as we described in our earlier e-mail, this is programmed for June this year. We will share designs once these are fixed and progressed sufficiently and approved internally, via a consultation process.

Surveys are ongoing and include several different types including topographical surveys, 3D laser surveys, ground investigations, utility searches, drainage surveys, ecology surveys, highways investigations and others. Again, these take time to procure, appoint, undertake the surveys and provide reports. Only then can the designs consider the investigations.

Negotiations are in advanced talks with all the freeholders, these discussions are progressing and are not holding up the overall programme.

The team report into an Eston Regeneration Group with reports submitted monthly and with quarterly meetings. All projects are also reported into the Council’s Scrutiny Committee and approvals gained via the Council’s Cabinet process.

Thank you.

Best Wishes,
Eston Levelling Up Project Team

Thank you for your enquiry.

The council and the appointed design team, who successfully tendered for the project, are working up design proposals for the redevelopment of the precinct and are progressing to programme. There is a lot to do before we are ready to undertake planning consultation and submit the required documentation for a planning application. This includes site surveys and investigations, outline designs progressing to detailed design, and all the necessary detailed reports required for planning. We have put a life cycle on the website and anticipate pre-planning consultation in June. Plus, we need to negotiate with all of the freeholders to try to acquire their interests. We will continue to update the website with updates as we proceed.

Best wishes,
Eston Levelling Up Project Team