The Tees Valley has secured a vital funding package of almost £1 billion, set to unlock dozens of transformative transport projects across the region. Government officials have confirmed that the Tees Valley Combined Authority will receive the full £978 million earmarked as part of the second round of the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS2).
This significant financial injection means that work can now accelerate on crucial schemes previously agreed by the Tees Valley Mayor and Cabinet in 2024. These include the development of a new station at Teesside Park, a new third platform at Middlesbrough Station, and the creation of an autonomous tram network designed to improve ease of travel within the region’s towns.
Confirmation of the funding came during talks with Government officials this week, with the Treasury expected to officially sign off the amount during the Government’s Spending Review announcement scheduled for next week.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “We’ve been tirelessly making the case for this money, announced by the previous Government, to come to us. I’m pleased our message has hit home – and it means we can get on and deliver on our list of absolutely vital transport projects – agreed by Cabinet – to secure growth and jobs for people across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool. We’ve already taken action to transform our major stations at Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and Darlington – and it’s great to see the Government sit up and recognise we can deliver. Unlocking another £1bn of funding will allow us to get on and bringing the better roads, better stations and better transport links we deserve. This will not only make life easier every day for more people, but boost trade and supercharge the huge investments and projects we have coming on-line. From a cutting-edge tram network, to sorting out our stations and getting a new Tees Crossing done, this is a big step forward to getting even more spades in the ground and helping to deliver growth across our area.”
The Mayor and Cabinet originally agreed to this transformative package of funding from CRSTS2 in January 2024. The agreed projects also include a new revamped £20 million station for Teesside Airport, a much-needed new station for South Bank to help serve the rising number of Teesworks projects, and a new improved £15 million bus station in the heart of Middlesbrough.
Councillor Steve Harker, Leader of Darlington Borough Council and Cabinet Member for Transport and Infrastructure, commented: “This is very good news for the Tees Valley and shows the new Government’s commitment to making a real difference to our transport network. We’ve a wide range of projects planned for our road and rail network – and there is also plenty lined up to improve infrastructure for buses and those who get around by bike. This commitment will help us make our plans a reality and I’m looking forward to seeing more progress now being made on the ground.”
The comprehensive package also encompasses further work on delivering an improved A19 Tees Crossing, the launch of a study into an Eastern Tees Crossing to link up Hartlepool and Redcar, and crucial improvements to vital freight access to the rail network, with a particular focus on gauge work between Eaglescliffe and Northallerton.
Additionally, there are plans to enhance nine key bus corridors across all five of the region’s boroughs, alongside a vision to create and deliver a new Darlington Northern Link Road to establish better connections between the A66 and the A1(M).
