A plan to regenerate an old Teesside railway station with £40m has been announced.

South Bank station will be transformed into a transport hub in the first phase of work submitted to Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.

The plans include extensive road improvements and a co-ordinated access to the Teesside Freeport area near the station to provide better access to jobs.

A new station car park, including a park and ride facility, is also part of the wider plan.

The £40m project is part of a raft of improvements in and around the station signed off by the Tees Valley Mayor and Cabinet members as part of a funding package agreed in January and will form phase two of the South Bank project.

This is what the South Bank station currently looks like:

The Northern Echo: South Bank Station

The existing footbridge link over the railway line will be replaced to offer better access to the Freeport area and jobs on the Teesworks site for South Bank residents.

A new and improved widened platform would also be created alongside a fully accessible footbridge with lifts to ensure sorely needed access is provided to rail passengers.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: "Projects at Teesworks and the opportunities being opened up at the Teesside Freeport are ensuring thousands of good, well-paid jobs are coming on-line for people across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.

"South Bank is at the beating industrial heart of our region on the doorstep of Europe’s biggest industrial opportunity this century but, at the moment, the station is cut off, tired and simply not good enough.

"These bold plans will ensure people in South Bank and beyond will have the access they sorely need to the great opportunities on the site – be it on the train, on foot, by bike, in the car, or on a bus.

"The wider transport infrastructure for the Freeport north of the station will mean the full benefits of the zone can be realised and ensure travel in and out of the Freeport area is as smooth as possible.

"Again, this means better trade for businesses, more jobs, more money raised through business rates for the council, and, ultimately, a better future for people."

A planning application submitted in February includes proposed Freeport and Transport Management offices as well as HGV lanes and holding areas for Freeport access and exit off the Smith’s Dock Road roundabout north of the station.

Get the latest news, sports, and entertainment delivered straight to your device, for just £2 for 2 months click here

Most read

Postcode Lottery wins: North Yorkshire, Ashington, Newcastle

A66 and A172 closed in Middlesbrough during incident

County Durham's least expensive home sold since 2000

Hybrid units included in part of the plans will not be paid for out of the transport funding allocation.

Plans have also previously been announced for a memorial to be built at South Bank to provide a lasting tribute to workers who have tragically died on the former steelworks site. 

The remembrance garden will offer a place of quiet reflection for loved ones while honouring those that have died in the 170 years of iron and steelmaking on Teesside.