Tees Valley goes for growth

LEP outlines its priorities for the year ahead

Tees Valley’s focus for 2013 will be on development, business growth, housing construction and infrastructure.

In a statement of intent for this year, the Local Enterprise Partnership for Tees Valley Tees Valley Unlimited, has set out its priorities.

These are driving development plans forward, attracting more companies to the area, enabling home-grown businesses to expand, exploring ways of encouraging house construction and helping improve the infrastructure of Tees Valley.

Stephen Catchpole, TVU managing director, said: “I believe we can look back over 2012 with satisfaction having established firm foundations for a brighter economic future.

“Developing essential building blocks such as success across Regional Growth Fund, the popularity of the Tees Valley Enterprise Zone and significant achievement in securing Government funding enables us to look forward to the coming months with optimism as our plans gather even more pace.

“We know it will not be easy, but integral to shaping a new economic landscape in Tees Valley is working with a wide range of partners. In 2013 we will continue to engage with potential investors, key stakeholders and those at the heart of Government to update them on our progress and  also make sure that as many opportunities as possible are created within the Tees Valley area."

TVU’s list of priorities includes:

• Attracting further investment to the Enterprise Zone

• Advancing  the bid for a Tees Valley City Deal to attract further investment based on local decision making

• Delivering the Tees Valley Rail Network Project including the start of construction on a new station at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough

• Using Growing Places Funds to kick start projects by developing infrastructure and unlocking economic growth

• Engaging with employers in key sectors to increase apprenticeship opportunities.

• Providing further support to Tees Valley companies in their bid to deliver a Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Project

• Identifying and applying for funding for projects to develop the offshore wind supply chain

• Completing studies into new models of collaboration for future housing and regeneration priorities and ways of unlocking asset bases.

Catchpole added: “We will start this year as we finished the last - dedicated and committed to delivering our partnership business plan. It will be a year of challenges, but equally one of opportunity and we will continue to strive to make a real and positive difference to the Tees Valley economy.”