Work has begun on the first phase of Filey Sea Cadets’ ambitious £3.5m regeneration project to build a new headquarters on Southdene in Filey, as demolition of the existing building gets under way.

The sea cadets handed over the keys to Hull-based contractor, Houlton, just 25 days after securing planning approval, marking a major milestone in the project which has taken ten years to come to fruition.

The new headquarters will replace the 1920s pavilion structure which has been home to Filey Sea Cadets since 1986.

The unit ranks among the top five percent of the 400 Sea Cadet units throughout the UK.

Key handover, from left: David Frampton and Pete Barnicoat.

placeholder image — Key handover, from left: David Frampton and Pete Barnicoat.

Its new Centre of Excellence will provide modern and accessible training facilities for Filey’s young people and create a significant new centre for use by the wider community.

Over the last nine months, Filey Sea Cadets has worked in collaboration with Townscape Architects to design a building to complement existing historical properties in Southdene, while offering state-of-the-art facilities.

Steven Hopkinson, Chair of Filey Sea Cadets, said: “We know this project has captured the imagination of the local community, and this is a defining moment for the TS Unseen Unit.

“To hand over the site less than a month after securing planning permission is a fantastic achievement for everyone who helped us to get here.

“The pavilion was already earmarked for demolition when we first moved there in 1986.

"It’s been our home for 40 years and we’ll be sad to see it go, but it can no longer meet the needs of our cadets.

"We’re looking forward to giving the next generation a place designed for them, where they can learn new skills and grow in confidence.

"The new headquarters will also create space where local community groups can meet and hold events.

“Now that work has commenced on site and with early-stage funding secured, we’re focusing our efforts on raising further funds and calling on local people, businesses and organisations across the wider region to help us deliver our fantastic new £3.5m headquarters.”

Houlton will carry out remedial works, demolition of the existing building and prepare the site ahead of the main construction phase.

Steven added: “Houlton is a long-established regional contractor with a strong reputation for quality and a proven track record of delivering projects to a high

standard.

"Their experience and expertise will be invaluable as we take the next steps towards bringing our vision to life.”

Pete Barnicoat, Contracts Manager, at Houlton, said: “We are delighted to have secured this major project that will deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose facility providing lasting benefits for Filey Sea Cadets.

"We look forward to working with the project team and local stakeholders on this.”

The new facilities will allow the unit to expand its sailing, training and leadership activities and host more regional training camps for visiting youth groups.

The building will include four classrooms, a communal hall, dormitories for up to 48 people, a fully equipped kitchen, lift access, storage for powerboats and parking for cars and two minibuses.

The multi-use hall will be available for hire for events and functions.

Demolition and site clearance will continue over the coming weeks, with construction of the new building scheduled to begin in January 2027.

The new headquarters is expected to be completed in spring 2028.