AN area hit by the mothballing of a steel plant is to benefit from dozens of jobs regenerating a run-down housing estate.

Housing company Coast and Country has said that 60 per cent of the jobs created when it starts regeneration of the Closes Estate, in Redcar, east Cleveland, will be awarded to workers living in the borough.

It is anticipated that more than 45 jobs, as well as ten apprenticeships, will be created by the £47m project, which will see the estate completely demolished and rebuilt over the next five years.

It will come as a fillip to the area which has recently been hit by the mothballing of the Corus Teesside Cast Products plant, which started in February, putting 1,500 jobs at risk.

A similar scheme has already proved successful at Coast and Country’s nearby Steeplechase development, where £20m is being invested to build 173 houses.

At that development, 45 jobs have been created, including the recruitment of 25 residents of Redcar and Cleveland.

Ten apprentices have also been engaged for the ongoing scheme.

Iain Sim, Coast and Country’s chief executive, said: “Our regeneration work is not just about bricks and mortar, but also helping bring jobs and skills to the area.

“We have already proved that a significant proportion of jobs created by a housing regeneration scheme can be filled by local people and we are confident that a similar employment boost can be achieved at The Closes.”

Residents are currently being consulted about The Closes scheme, which will involve the demolition of more than 300 properties.

These will be replaced with 330 new homes, including a retirement village.

The properties on the newlook estate will be offered for sale, to rent or on a shared ownership/shared equity basis.

Mr Sim added: “Residents in Redcar and Cleveland have a right to expect good quality housing and The Closes regeneration scheme is part of Coast and Country’s plans to improve standards of accommodation within our area.

“The Closes estate is poorly designed, its layout means there is a lack of access and security, the mix of properties is inappropriate and the general environment is unsatisfactory.

“Our vision is to physically regenerate the estate by creating a sustainable place which will provide high quality, affordable homes, not only for existing residents but also for generations to come.”

The project, for which grant funding is being sought from the Homes and Communities Agency, will span five phases and is expected to be completed by 2015.

Established in 2001, not-forprofit Coast and Country took over the ownership and management of homes from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council in July 2002.

It is the largest Registered Social Landlord (RSL) within Redcar and Cleveland, with a current rental housing stock of 10,309 homes.