Lord Heseltine report encourages growth in Tees Valley

Lord Heseltine report says Tees Valley can become a “bustling powerhouse of economic activity”.

Following the closure of Redcar’s SSI steelworks, which resulted in a loss of 2,200 jobs, a new report by Lord Heseltine has been released, in which he looks at encouraging growth in Tees Valley.

Heseltine said: “I was delighted to receive an invitation from Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills to support inward investment in the Tees Valley, and to look at the SSI site following its closure.”

Within the report, Heseltine proposed a new development corporation for the area, more starter homes, apprenticeships, and a change in the industrial identity of Teesside to try and attract tourists.

The 90 page report written by former conservative Deputy Prime Minister, includes a new development corporation for the area, with a board made up of local business people and local authority leaders. They have been asked to draw up proposals for the use of the former steelworks site.

The end of steel production at Redcar works, came following the closure of the coke ovens and blast furnace.

SSI blamed a global slump in the value of steel for its original decision to mothball the Redcar works.

Lord Heseltine said: “The Government is driving forward the Northern Powerhouse.

“The new combined authority can stamp its own imprint, break out from the shadow of Newcastle, exploit its past, secure the interconnectivity of transport infrastructure, establish Darlington as its gateway and add an escalating range of new industries to those on which its past depended.”

 

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