A MULTI-MILLION pound development on Teesside has received the backing of local people.

A house-to-house survey revealed only 21 per cent of residents were against the Coatham Links development in Redcar.

The £55m seafront development will include housing and leisure facilities, along with a visitor centre featuring a multi-purpose dance and performance venue.

The survey, carried out by an independent market research company, questioned 606 residents across east Cleveland, 400 from Redcar wards and 206 from surrounding wards.

Seventy-one per cent of people questioned said they would visit the development, with more than 66 per cent saying they would take part in activities there.

However, many residents said they were concerned with any increase in council tax to pay for the scheme.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council said the leisure element of the scheme would be funded by the sale of land for housing, grants and prudential borrowing.

Cabinet member for economic development, Councillor Vera Moody, said: "This research reinforces what people have been telling us, that they want the Coatham Links scheme. It will deliver what people want: tens of millions of pounds worth of investment, 200 new jobs, a swimming pool and leisure centre, high quality, much-needed housing and a boost to tourism.