Part of the region's rich industrial heritage vanished forever on Thursday afternoon with the final explosive blowdown on Teesside's former steelworks.

At precisely 1pm, a deafening boom echoed across the controversial Teesworks site and out to sea, followed by a deep rumbling as the powerful explosives toppled Redcar Power Station in a matter of seconds.

Four blasts in quick succession brought down the former gas holder, triple flare stack, de-aerator, and chimney after Tory grandee Lord Michael Heseltine pushed the demolition trigger.

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There was a moment of silence from those who gathered to witness the spectacle as a thick cloud of black dust crawled along the coast before slowly dispersing to reveal a new vista.

It was a moment of quiet contemplation for former steelworkers whose fathers and grandfathers had worked at the site over the years.

It was Tees Valley: Opportunity Unlimited, authored by Lord Heseltine in 2016, which set out the vision and aims for the former steelworks site – including the creation of the South Tees Development Corporation in 2017.  

He said: "It hugely exciting for me coming back a few years later from the first decision to create a corporation and to build new opportunities here and to drive around and see how close we now to the physical evidence of new businesses, new jobs and the new world we have created.

"I am very proud to have been part of the beginning of this."

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The power station provided electricity to the Redcar Steelworks, fuelled from by-products of the iron-making process in the Blast Furnace. 

Its primary function was to provide cold blast air for the blast furnace.

Excess gas which came from the coke ovens and the blast furnace was used in the boiler heating process to generate more electricity.  

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen added: “Today marks the end of an era. It’s a bittersweet day to see the former steelworks down in their entirety.

"But with the help of our Joint Venture Partners, we are creating a bright new dawn at Teesworks – attracting huge green energy projects like Net Zero Teesside and major employers like SeAH Wind.  

“Bringing game-changing investors to Teesworks to create well-paid, skilled jobs for the people of Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool is what Teesworks is all about.” 

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Earlier this month the Government commissioned a review to consider allegations of corruption made in parliament by Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald and Tees Valley Combined Authority’s oversight of the South Tees Development Corporation and Teesworks Joint Venture.

The central allegation is that developers Chris Musgrave and Martin Corney have made £45m from Teesworks in three years without investing any of their own money.

By contrast, the taxpayer has put in £260m plus a £107m loan.

However, Teesworks says it has acquired a site which requires £483m of remediation work and so is a huge liability.

Mr Houchen said: "The review is ongoing. I called for it. I am pleased that we have been able to have an independent review.

“I won't be commenting on the detail of their review until the outcome because the last thing I want is to be accused of trying to influence the review in some untoward way.”

 

The demolition bookends a programme of works which has taken two years at Teesworks – and will be completed three years sooner than originally forecast.  

There are plans for two hydrogen plants on the demolition site, next to the planned carbon capture facilities.

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Martin Corney, Teesworks CEO, said: “This has been one of the largest demolition programmes the UK has ever seen – and I’m very pleased with the progress we’ve made so far.   

“Demolition has opened the door to us pumping millions of pounds into the remediation of hundreds of acres of land across Teesworks.  

“The speed and professionalism with which the programme has been carried out by contractors has also saved the taxpayer millions of pounds.  

“The hard work has only just started as we move onto the next phase of making the Teesworks vision a reality.”