New adventure golf course in Coatham approved for Redcar

The public realm improvements, which will also include an outdoor play area and a picnic lawn and public open space are intended for an area of land on the north side of Majuba Road to the west of the town’s boating lake and the ‘Tuned In’ facility.

They had been paused while a business case was prepared for a mooted 5,000 seater arena to be built on the former Coatham Bowl site on the opposite side of Majuba Road, which the council said would “fundamentally alter” its plans.

But the arena proposal involving a local business, Coatham Arena Limited, was recently rejected by council chiefs and members of the local authority’s regulatory committee have now given planning permission for the improvements.

Read more: New Redcar Arena would be a 'phenomenal asset'

An outline of the regeneration plan for the area. Picture: LDR

Last year councillors approved a 42-bed hotel with a family restaurant, outdoor eating terrace and associated car parking on the seafront at Coatham, another element of the regeneration scheme.

Meanwhile, a water sports centre is also being separately planned further along the seafront under the £25m Redcar Town Deal scheme.

The public realm improvements will be located on the former R-Kade skateboard site and a portion of the Majuba Road car park, where some car parking spaces will be lost as a result.

But a hundred new car parking spaces on the former Coatham Bowl site are to be added and Councillor Stuart Smith, chairman of the regulatory committee, said with the addition of the hotel car parking there would in fact be an overall increase of eight car parking spaces in the area.

He said the golf course, which will be enclosed by fencing, and outdoor play area would link with investment taking place elsewhere in the town and in the new hotel.

There were no objections to the plans, but the council’s environmental protection department said a risk management plan was needed in respect of any “unexploded ordnance” that could be found.

On October 21, 1941, during the Second World War, a German bomber dropped its payload on Redcar, killing 12 people when the Zetland Club, in Coatham Road, was destroyed, while three more perished in nearby Queen Street.

How the new proposal could look. Picture: LDR

It was also noted that dust could affect properties nearby during the construction phase – which could begin next month – and a dust mitigation strategy was also required to be signed off by the council.

The working hours for all construction activities will be limited to between 8am and 6pm Mondays to Friday and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays. 

Read more: Redcar and Cleveland 'benefiting' from levelling up funding

Council officers concluded that the principle of development was supported by the local authority’s Local Plan, a planning blueprint.

The improvements were also backed by the council’s place investment team which described them as “exciting” and would result in “increased numbers of people visiting, staying, and enjoying the area”.

A report for planning members, recommending approval, said the existing promenade running adjacent to the beach at Coatham would be retained, with proposed pedestrian access connecting it to Majuba Road to the south. 

The area outlined for development, in Coatham, Redcar. Picture: LDR

It said the general layout and design of the development was acceptable, adding: “The proposal introduces a new leisure and public realm use which, it is considered, will make a positive contribution to the recreational facilities in the coastal area and the town. 

“The development will make a positive contribution to the appearance and character of the area.”

Mitigation measures have been set out with the plans in respect of any ecological impacts and “ornithological interests” on the site to be developed.

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