HOUSING BOOST FOR TEES VALLEY

TEES Valley is to receive almost £2m of funding to prepare up to 10 sites for housing development after a successful application to Government.

Tees Valley Unlimited (TVU), through Tees Valley Living, is one of 45 areas nationwide to receive a share of Growth Point funding.

The £1.9m of cash, approved following the ‘Localism in Tees Valley’ report submission, means the organisation can begin work across the boroughs in areas identified for housing.

These include Belle Vue in Hartlepool, Greater Eston in Middlesbrough, Mandale in Thornaby and former school sites in Darlington.

The funding will be spent on feasibility studies into the need for volume and type of housing, design work and infrastructure to open up identified sites for development.

Les Southerton, Interim Managing Director of Tees Valley Unlimited, said: “The news that almost £2m of Government funding has been secured is excellent news and will enable us to carry out vital works which will ultimately lead to future housing development.

“It’s particularly encouraging at a time when financial support is so hard to come by.

“As part of this funding we’ll be working with local communities so they have the opportunity to shape future developments where people will want to live and work – something we see as a vital step to success.”

Tees Valley Living, which is currently being integrated into TVU, co-ordinated the bid for Growth Point funding. It believes having a varied property portfolio can contribute to:

  • Reviving the hearts of our urban areas;
  • increase the supply of better quality homes;
  • attract a mobile workforce;
  • have a major impact on the supply chain; and
  • stimulate jobs and growth

Angela Lockwood, Chairman of Tees Valley Living, said: “Growth Point funding plays an integral part in Tees Valley delivering key regeneration schemes.

“This further boost means we can look at potential sites for housing and what needs to be done to prepare them for development. It’s excellent news for the five boroughs of Tees Valley.”

Tees Valley Unlimited worked with local authority partners and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to submit the bid – which had to be turned around in just three weeks.

“This funding will support the detailed technical work that is needed to make sites ready for development and ensure they meet local needs,” said Paul Jackson, Investment and Regeneration Manager at the Homes and Communities Agency.

“Our role is to help councils to make things happen in their own areas, and this will make it possible to bring several key schemes forward right across the Tees Valley.”

The other Growth Point sites identified for accelerated development are Easington Road, East Central, Golden Flatts and North Central in Hartlepool; Green Blue Heart in Stockton and Middlesbrough and Grove Hill in Middlesbrough.

They are in addition to Tees Valley Unlimited’s three key projects – Middlehaven in Middlesbrough, Northshore in Stockton and Central Park in Darlington.

The £1.9m of Growth Point funding – awarded through the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) will be spent over the next 12 months.

For more information contact Leanne English, PR Manager at Tees Valley Unlimited, on 01642 632013, 07725 602824 or email leanne.english@teesvalleyunlimited.gov.uk.