Tees Valley Secures £24 Million for Town Centre Transport Links in £1.3 Billion Infrastructure Plan

Leaders in the Tees Valley have approved a comprehensive transport and infrastructure proposal worth over £1.3 billion, which includes a dedicated £24 million fund for each of the region’s five local authorities to enhance connectivity within major town centre regeneration projects.

The Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, alongside Combined Authority Cabinet members, agreed to submit the ambitious package to the Government. The fund aims to support Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees in improving transport links that are vital to the success of ongoing and future regeneration efforts.

This investment aligns with the recently endorsed Local Growth Plan, a decade-long strategy designed to bolster the region’s strengths and priorities in skills, employment, transport, housing, and development, with a particular focus on revitalising town centres.

Each council will collaborate closely with the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) to tailor connectivity projects that address the specific needs and opportunities of their respective town centres.

Mayor Houchen emphasised the importance of integrated transport networks, stating: “Important projects are taking shape in our towns right now across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool. 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. 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.”

In addition to the funding allocation for town centres, Cabinet members approved the submission of an updated Tees Valley transport delivery plan to the Government. This follows refinements to earlier draft proposals presented in March and outlines priorities to create a faster, safer, and more reliable transport network.

The plan focuses on enhancing connections between communities, town centres, major employment hubs, and the national transport system. Key projects include the construction of a new platform at Middlesbrough Station to boost rail capacity and reliability, redevelopment of Thornaby Station as part of the Tees Central initiative, improved access to Teesdale Business Park, upgrades to the Tees Marshalling Yards, the Darlington Northern Link Road, and wider improvements along the A66 and A689 corridors.

Capital allocations within the plan are detailed as follows:

• Tees Rail – £256 million: Projects include enhancements at Middlesbrough Station, Redcar Central, New South Bank Station, Teesside International Airport Station, the Eaglescliffe to Northallerton Rail Gauge Clearance, and other station and rail improvements.
• Road investments – £470 million: Funding covers the Darlington Northern Link Road, A689 improvements, an Elwick Bypass, increased highway maintenance including the A66, a road safety programme, and additional network upgrades to support employment and housing.
• Bus and active travel – £165.8 million: This includes corridor improvements across all five boroughs, shelter upgrades, and enhancements to Middlesbrough Bus Station.
• Unlocking jobs, growth and housing – £378 million: Investments target Teesworks transport improvements, Tees Central, town centre regeneration programmes, and the restoration of the Transporter Bridge.
• Digital transport – £65 million: Funding for initiatives such as the Tees Valley Traffic Digital Twin.

Cllr Steve Harker, TVCA Cabinet Member for Transport and Infrastructure, highlighted the significance of the plan: “This is a wide-ranging and vitally important transport delivery plan for the whole of Tees Valley. It will be adapted as the work develops, but it is pleasing to have these priorities set down. We now look forward to the feedback from the Department for Transport.” He added, “It is crucial people understand that, while we are a devolved body, major transport schemes often require significant additional funding. Therefore, Government backing for our plans is vital because it will allow external bodies to help fund our programme, giving us the best chance of delivering as many projects as possible in good time across the region.”