CONTROVERSIAL plans for an £88m leisure and housing complex have moved a step forward with the agreement of when and how the scheme should be built.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and Persimmon Homes have signed an agreement in which the Coatham Links scheme will begin on a date to be set this year.

Despite opposition to the proposals, the council's planning committee approved the plans last month.

After four years of discussions, the final scheme put forward was for 359 homes, as well as a leisure complex, extreme sports centre, medical village, shops, a pub, coastguard building and children's nursery.

The agreement has set out the timeline for the plans, and has ensured that the leisure part of the plans will be included in the first phase, while limiting the number of houses until later on.

Conservative councillor Vera Moody, from Redcar, said: "The development agreement between the two partners has allowed us to establish our vision in ensuring that we deliver a sustainable and high-quality development within a realistic timeframe.

"On completion of phase one, we will have a new swimming pool, leisure pool with children's water area, a new-build leisure centre with a dancefloor, and sports hall, plus two five-aside football courts."

She said primary care trust buildings, shops, increased flood defences, additional roads and infrastructure would all be part of phase one.

She added: "This development will provide something for everybody, restoring lost leisure facilities."

Although surveys showed that most people in Redcar backed the plans, there were a number of strong opponents, who said the scheme would ruin the seafront and add to traffic congestion.

However, their attempts to make the matter the subject of a judicial review were rejected by the High Court.

Campaigner Chris McGlade said: "There will be no visitor centre, no bowling alley and no bingo hall, because there are no funds to pay for it, or anyone to take them on.

"This is not a leisure-led development, it is a housing estate on our coastline."

But Peter Jordan, Persimmon Homes' regional projects director, said: "The development agreement is a key document for Redcar, as it not only controls the development itself, but how the construction is phased to make sure all the leisure elements occur at the outset.

"The result is a scheme which has taken on board all suggestions to produce a superior development plan, which will provide a real boost for the area."