THIS year marks five years on since the closure of the SSI Redworks steelworks site, a decision which changed the lives of thousands of people, but what does the site's future look like now?

On October 12, 2015 the coke ovens closed for good at the Thai-owned Sahaviriya Steel Industries UK (SSI) steelworks - resulting in the loss of around 2,000 jobs, a huge blow to people in Redcar, communities across Teesside and the regional economy.

The site is currently undergoing building work become the newly named Teesworks Site, which is reported to create 775 jobs over the next 12-months.

Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, has long promised that Teesworks Site would capture and celebrate the history of the former Redcar steelworks in its new form.

Building work was postponed during the coronavirus lockdown but has since restarted again at a fast pace.

This month, October 2, Mayor Houchen has today (September 4) formed a Teesworks Heritage Taskforce to capture and celebrate the history of the former Redcar steelworks.marked the anniversary of the site going into liquidation by demolishing its former gatehouse - paving the way for the site’s new future and brand-new, state-of-the-art entrance.

Mayor Houchen also issued £150million for the five-year programme for the demolition of Redcar Steelworks contracts in August this year, including the demolishing of the iconic blast furnace and coke ovens, which have formed part of the Redcar skyline for generations.

North East-based Esh Construction has been employed to undertake the £1million development at the site.

Along with the new gatehouse and entrance, construction will be carried out on new landscaping and expanded visitor parking - using local suppliers and contractors from across the Tees Valley.

Last week, a major project to decontaminate and demolish five huge redundant oil tanks on the Teesworks site was launched by a local firm embracing a Totally Teesside. The initiative reportedly supported 20 jobs.

The nine structures that will be demolished as part of the programme are: the blast furnace, coke ovens, raw materials handling facility, sinter plant, power station, Lackenby steelmaking plant, Lackenby coil plate mill complex, South Bank coke ovens and Grangetown torpedo ladle repair facility.