FAQs

Yes, additional benches with backrests will be installed.

The tarmac circles are design features called ‘nodes’, marking points where paths and roads meet. The yellow tarmac is another intentional design choice, inspired by the nearby beach.

Yes, any uneven paving has been identified through our inspections and is being repaired or replaced as part of routine snagging on a project of this size.

The existing red paving at the edges of the High Street will be kept. Where repairs are needed, this will be carried out through the Council’s highways maintenance programme. In addition, a new drain has been installed outside the former Clinkards building to resolve the water pooling in that area.

The landscaping along the High Street has been carefully selected to be low‑maintenance and well‑suited to the local environment. The trees are a Field Maple variety called ‘Queen Elizabeth’, chosen for their resilience, suitability for urban settings, low maintenance needs and long lifespan. 

The Business Engagement Team provides support to new and existing businesses – more information can be found at https://www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/business-information

Investing in the high street creates a more attractive, safer and accessible environment that encourages people to visit and spend time locally. This increased footfall supports existing businesses and helps attract new ones, while a well‑maintained and welcoming setting gives property owners more confidence to invest. Enhancements such as improved paving, lighting, planting and seating also strengthen the town’s identity, boost community pride and deliver greener, more sustainable spaces for everyone.

The engraving is a poem by local artist Carmen Marcus – more information can be found at https://redcarcleveland.uk.engagementhq.com/town-centre-transformation/news_feed/high-street-poem-engraving-the-line-by-carmen-marcus

The Council’s Culture Team is developing a full programme of events centred around the new high street and public square, with links to The Lookout. To find out more about upcoming events in Redcar and across the borough, please visit: https://redcarcleveland.co.uk/enjoy/

The construction works are scheduled for completion in March 2026.  

The relaying of paving outside Clinton Cards is on schedule to be completed by the end of January 2026. The topcoat of tarmac outside Sports Direct is also planned to begin in January, weather permitting. Installation of the new planters and trees will start in January, with larger litter bins to follow in early February. A full clean of the paving is planned for early March 2026, giving the High Street its final finishing touch.”

The town centre grant scheme has already supported 15 businesses with improvement funding. As the shops on the High Street are privately owned, the Council cannot directly control or purchase empty units at scale. However, the Rediscover Redcar team continues to engage regularly with property owners, and the Council is taking further action to tackle vacancies by using new High Street Rental Auction powers to help bring long‑term vacant premises back into use.

During the daytime, please contact Rediscover Redcar: 

Rediscover Redcar (12 West Terrace, Redcar)

Phone 01642 444073

Email   rediscover@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk

For any issues out of hours, please contact the Council's CCTV team on 01642 495345.

We’ve received reports of orange markings appearing on some of the armrests of the new benches on Redcar High Street. After speaking with the manufacturer, we understand these marks are only surface-level and likely caused by nearby construction works. The armrests are made from Grade 316 stainless steel, selected for its durability and suitability for coastal environments, and the marks can be easily wiped away. We will continue to monitor the benches, and if the issue persists, the contractor will resolve it under the guarantee at no cost or risk to the Council.

Yes, all businesses will be open as usual for the duration of the works.

The temporary surface you can see is the binder course, which will later be finished with a decorative tarmac top layer. Although it is being used as a temporary walking surface, the binder course is a standard part of the construction and has not added any extra cost to the project.

Yes, access will be always be maintained to businesses at all times.       

Yes, both streets will remain open throughout the works, with deliveries to the site taking place mainly in the early morning.

The Council does not have any control over the setting of rents and business rates on the High Street. Business rates are set centrally by the Government. The Council does not own properties on the High Street, so rents are set by private sector property owners.

Significant investment is going into the wider Borough, including Guisborough, Eston and Loftus. Please visit YourVoiceMatters to find out more. The investment in Redcar High Street is part of the Redcar Town Deal funding provided by the Government.

Yes, the contractor will make available access to the High Street for emergency vehicles, including access into the areas being worked on if required.

The works are being funded through the Government‑funded Redcar Town Deal.

New events infrastructure will be installed including power and water points. 

Maintenance will be the responsibility of the Council. Additional resources have been set aside for additional street cleaning.

The contractor is retaining around 15% of the existing block paving for reuse on the High Street, mainly to repair areas along the edges where paving is not being replaced. Retaining all blocks would not be efficient or economical, as removing them carefully, sorting, and storing them would add significant cost and time to the project and prolong disruption. Because most blocks are lifted by excavator, many become chipped or damaged during removal. All excavated blocks that cannot be reused will be taken away by licensed waste carriers and 100% recycled locally by crushing them for use as building materials.

Where the paving arrangement would require blocks to be cut to less than one third of the original block size, a small number of blocks may be rotated into the second banding line to avoid small cuts.  

Most of the new paving uses traditional cropped blocks rather than sawn blocks. These rustic‑style paviours were selected to complement the High Street’s character, creating a balanced mix of modern and traditional styles that reflects the surrounding architecture. This approach not only enhances the visual appeal of the area but also helps the new sections blend smoothly with the retained paving, strengthening the overall look and feel of the High Street and creating a more attractive, welcoming environment

Works are subject to a robust inspection regime, with weekly checks carried out across the site. Any temporary or permanent surfaces that are handed back for public use are only opened once they have been formally inspected and signed off by both the Council’s Highways team and the project manager. This process ensures that all areas meet the required safety and quality standards before the public can use them.”