PLANS for the redevelopment of the Kirkleatham estate are starting to take shape as a bid has been lodged to secure another £2.4m worth of funding.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is set to build a new Catering Academy and Walled Garden as part of an ongoing restoration programme on the estate, on the outskirts of Redcar, which is anticipated to create 40 direct jobs, 40 indirect jobs and more than 100 apprenticeships.

The local authority has already secured £1.1m from the Coastal Communities Fund and is currently in the process of securing £2.4 million from the Local Growth Fund.

The extra cash will be used to develop a quality attraction and training centre which would incorporate a restaurant, potentially with a retail unit and events space within three and a half acres of restored gardens.

Councillor Dale Quigley, cabinet member for economic growth at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, said: “The regeneration of the Kirkleatham Estate is a huge priority for the council. The success of the Festival of Thrift, which attracted 35,000 visitors to the site, only highlights what an asset the estate is to our borough.

“It is a unique setting with rich heritage, which we see as a major opportunity for development to help create employment and training opportunities, while building a major visitor attraction.”

The estate contains the highly successful Kirkleatham Museum with a nearby pavilion and play area, which attracts over 100,000 visitors per year. It also houses Kirkleatham Hall School, the popular owl centre, private businesses, residences, and numerous heritage gems such as St. Cuthbert’s Church and mausoleum, the former stables and the Almshouses.

The apprenticeship and training opportunities will span a number of vocations, including horticulture, heritage, catering, front-of-house customer service, business administration and events and marketing. The jobs will include management, administration, tutoring, catering, customer service and events planning roles.

The walled garden is a 3.5 hectare, Grade Two listed area of land, uncultivated for a generation.

And the catering academy is expected to be in the Bellamy Pavillion area.

Last month, the Walled Garden played a central role in the Festival of Thrift when it hosted an outdoor dining experience which was inspired by the history, folklore, famous faces and tales of Redcar, including Roseberry topping ice cream.

For further information about the proposals visit the council’s website.