A COASTAL nature reserve is set to receive nearly £50,000 in funding to secure the heritage site for future generations.

Repairs, restoration and new developments to the tune of £49,947 will be carried out at the South Gare Nature Reserve, in Redcar, after being chosen among 25 other projects to benefit from the Coastal Revival Fund.

The grant scheme has provided more than £4.7m to support 117 projects in coastal areas since being set up by the Government in 2015.

The funding granted to the Redcar and Cleveland area will see visitor facilities created at the South Gare.

Nature Reserve by reusing and improving existing assets at the mouth of the River Tees.

The project, named the South Gare Nature Reserve Visitor Destination, is one of three schemes in the region selected to receive funding alongside a creative classroom plan in Sunderland and car parking improvements in Amble, Northumberland.

Deborah Lamb, deputy chief executive of Historic England, said: “We welcome news of funding to help save at-risk historic buildings and places in our seaside towns and villages, so that they can be brought back into use for the benefit of local communities.

“Restoring local gems can attract investment and help to tackle the deprivation that is a problem in a number of our coastal areas. There are great examples of restoration projects in our seaside towns, often bringing together the private, public, voluntary and social enterprise sectors. This funding will inspire more.”

The Coastal Revival Fund is designed to support large-scale projects which are important to seaside communities but are yet to reach their full economic potential or are falling into neglect.

Coastal Communities Minister, Jake Berry MP, said: “The Coastal Revival Fund also helps regenerate our coastal communities and support them to grow by bringing these sites back to life and making them the focal points of their communities once more.

“It’s all part of our plan to invest nearly a quarter of a billion pounds in our seaside areas by 2020, providing thousands of jobs, training places and opportunities up and down the Great British Coast.”