The Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority Cabinet members have agreed proposals should be sent to the Government on a wide-ranging transport and infrastructure vision of more than £1.3bn.
And the package will include a sum of approximately £24 million for each of the region’s five local authorities: Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Stockton and Darlington – to support connections and transport for major regeneration projects taking place in each borough.
Hartlepool will receive a boost for the Elwick bypass and A689 improvements as part of the package.
The funding boost will tie in with the recently agreed Local Growth Plan – a 10-year vision to set out how the region will build on its strengths to grow and meet its priorities on skills, jobs, transport, housing and development, particularly supporting regeneration of the area’s town centres.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “Important projects are taking shape in our towns right now across Hartlepool, Teesside and Darlington. From the Darlington Economic Campus to the new Production Village in Hartlepool, as well as exciting visions across Teesside, we’re seeing interventions to breathe new life into the heart of our towns.”
He added: “But these projects will simply not deliver what local people need if they don’t link up properly with our transport network. That is why I want this fund to give each council the ability to invest and ensure they connect with as many people as possible.”
Cabinet also agreed that the updated Tees Valley transport delivery plan should be submitted to the Government following refinements to draft proposals presented to leaders in March.
The plan sets out the region’s priorities for a faster, safer and more reliable network, improving links between communities, town centres, major employment sites and the national transport system.
