New CityHeart, Rising Redcar And Opportunities Across Tees Valley Feature In Another Busy UKREiiF

A huge effort to highlight the scale of opportunities and transformation taking place across our region has secured the best attendance yet at a nationally significant property event.

Tees Valley Combined Authority and its five local authority partners joined forces at UKREiiF in Leeds this week to showcase a wave of major projects helping to drive growth, regeneration and investment across the region.

Representing Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees, Tees Valley is backed by more than £20.4billion of investment in projects, schemes and programmes transforming the area – from advanced manufacturing and clean energy to town centre regeneration and digital innovation.

And the attendance at the Tees Valley stand was the largest seen since the Combined Authority began attending.

The new CityHeart joint venture development in Darlington was highlighted on Wednesday (20 May), building on the rapid growth of the Government’s Economic Campus, the expanding Science and Innovation Quarter and the town’s new nine-figure railway station.

More detail was shared on how CityHeart and Darlington Borough Council will work together to support long-term growth in the town centre – creating a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver a thriving, well-connected and future-focused destination.

Wednesday was capped off with a Tees Valley Investment Reception, giving investors the opportunity to connect directly with regional leaders, developers and partners, while highlighting live opportunities and the work under way with Teesside University to accelerate the region’s fast-growing digital and creative sectors.

This includes the creation of up to 2,000 jobs through the £160million Tees Valley Investment Zone – the UK’s only Investment Zone focused on these industries.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “UKREiiF is a fantastic platform to show the scale of ambition we have across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool – and the sheer amount we have coming. We have a record of delivering huge projects – and it’s clear from the record attendance and level of interest we’ve seen that people are sitting up and taking notice.

“We’re delivering billions of pounds of investment, transforming our town centres, backing cutting-edge industries and creating real opportunities for businesses and residents alike.

“From the huge progress at Teesworks to major regeneration in our towns and the growth of our digital and creative sectors, we’re proving we are the most exciting place in the UK to invest, work and do business.”

With a strong delegation including the Tees Valley Mayor, senior Combined Authority leaders and local authority chiefs, the region used UKREiiF to show off its ability to deliver complex, large-scale developments at pace – from the £1billion SeAH Wind monopile factory at Teesworks, to emerging opportunities in advanced manufacturing, clean energy and digital infrastructure.

The packed three-day programme also featured presentations highlighting exciting plans across all five local authority areas.

In Stockton, the vision for a bold long-term vision to redevelop 110 hectares of land, providing thousands of new homes alongside commercial space, a new Riverside Park and a nationally significant Care and Health Innovation Zone, took centre stage.

It comes as the Council is also set to launch a procurement opportunity for up to 1,000 units across town centre residential sites Stockton as part of the Tees Central development, under the PAGABO framework.

In Hartlepool, the spotlight was on ambitions to supercharge TV and film production, supported by the Tees Valley Investment Zone, Hartlepool Development Corporation, Hartlepool Borough Council and North East Screen, including plans for a major expansion of the film studios and development of a Production Village,

Redcar took centre stage in a lively Q&A session featuring Brian Archer, Chief Executive of Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, and UKREiiF Director Matt Christie, as the town continues to drive forward its “Redcar Rising” vision – delivering a high-quality, mixed-use town centre with new retail, commercial, cultural, education and residential opportunities.

There was also a joint showcase on the ambitious vision for growth and regeneration in Middlesbrough, with developers Capital & Centric and Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke featuring.

Mayor Cooke, who is also TVCA Cabinet Member for Inward Investment, Finance and Housing said: “UKREiiF is vital in helping us attract the investment, expertise and partnerships we need to deliver real change in our towns.

“In Middlesbrough and across Tees Valley, we are bringing forward ambitious regeneration plans that will transform our town centres, create new opportunities and improve the places people live and work.

“By working closely with the private sector, we can unlock this potential, drive growth and ensure our communities see the benefits for years to come.”