The multi-million pound Redcar Leisure and Community Heart has beaten its targets for spending and employing locally - and remains on target to open in the spring.
Scores of workers and millions of pounds in materials for the £31m Redcar and Cleveland Council project have already been sourced within the region.
In addition, more than 50% of the workforce lives, and 40% of the £28m on-site spend has been allocated, within 20 miles of the Redcar development.
Councillor Mark Hannon, the council’s Cabinet member for economic development, said: “The vast majority of the budget for this project has been re-invested in the local and regional economy.
"This scheme has already created new jobs and safeguarded existing ones in construction and is set to boost the borough’s economy even further once it opens.”
The Heart will include swimming pools - which have recently been getting the tiles attached - a wave simulator, a cafe, a register office, fitness suites and conference facilities.
Council chambers, the mayor’s parlour and small and medium sized business facilities will also be located at the Ridley Street site.
It was part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and, once completed, will create and safeguard 260 jobs in day-to-day operation. Construction-labour and spending targets are set by Scape, a local authority-owned but independent company aimed at streamlining procurement.
About 60 firms have been contracted to work on the development and several have taken on extra staff, including Shanco Construction, which has offices in Durham and Leeds.
Nathan Graham, 20, of Bankfields, Eston, joined the firm as an apprentice ground worker in October 2012, about six months after work started.
The former Eston Park School pupil said: “This is the first major project I’ve worked on for Shanco and it’s practically on my doorstep. I can’t wait until it’s finished and I can say to myself, ‘I helped build that.’”
Martin Miles, contract manager for centre operator Everyone Active, said: “The exterior of the centre has looked stunning for some time now, but now the interior is starting to catch up. The beach pool is really taking shape and will provide the perfect environment in which to develop water confidence. And the centrepiece to the pool area, the FlowRider, has had its pump installed.”
Article courtesy of Gazette Live:
http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/redcar-leisure-community-heart-beating-6661400
No comments:
Post a Comment
Have your say on Redcar!