Regenerating Middlesbrough Kevin Parkes Director of Regeneration, Middlesbrough Council Content • About Middlesbrough / Teesside • Middlesbrough’s Headline Indicators • Strategic Policy and Political Approaches • Tees Valley Local Enterprise Partnership • Middlesbrough’s Policies and Frameworks • Potential Opportunities • Potential Barriers / Threats About Middlesbrough • Based in the North East of England • Part of wider Teesside conurbation • Built on the iron, steel and heavy manufacturing industries • Town has suffered from population decline since 1961 • Current population c.137,000 • Now developing a new, more diverse economy based on retail, public administration, education, health and digital technologies About Teesside • Europe’s second largest petrochemical complex • Re-opening of former Corus Steel works by SSI • Tees – third largest in the UK • Emerging bio-fuels/renew- able and digital sectors • Population of c.450,000 (wider catchment area of 800,000+) Middlesbrough’s Headline Indicators • 8th most deprived local authority in England • 13 wards, out of 23, in top 10% most deprived in England (with 6 of these in the most deprived 1%) • JSA Claimants = 7.5% compared to 5% in North East and 3.8% in GB • 24% of working age population on key out of work benefits - 18.7% in North East and 14.7% in GB • Extensive issue of families with multiple problems • Teesside University – The University of the Year • Inflow of 8,000 workers per day • Increasingly socially divided between north and south • Low house building rates Strategic Policy and Political Approaches • Close co-operative working with Tees Valley neighbours • Strong Political leadership for 10 years • Recognition of a need to change – business friendly • Focus been on physical regeneration • Neighbourhood regeneration – not solved the problems? Tees Valley Local Enterprise Partnership • The LEP area covers Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar & Cleveland, Hartlepool and Darlington • Driven by a private sector led Leadership Board • Builds on a decade of successful public/private partnership in economic development, transport and housing • Split from rest of North East - strong social and economic linkages with North Yorkshire • Business Plan setting out a clear vision for the future Tees Valley economy • LEP to ensure the right infrastructure is in place: – the right physical conditions (quality of place, modern and efficient communication networks, sufficient housing); and, – the right people (Job ready, skilled employees to meet businesses needs, and entrepreneurs to establish indigenous businesses) Tees Valley Enterprise Zone • To stimulate business and Job growth in the private sector by 2015 • Concentrating on the priority sectors of the local economy • Tees Valley’s proposal was considered ‘Bold and Clever’ by Government • Zone includes 12 individual sites across Tees Valley, including South West Iron Master site and Middlehaven in Middlesbrough Middlesbrough’s Policies and Frameworks • Policy framework embedded • Urban Regeneration Strategy/ Planning / Housing • Business responsive e.g. planning applications • Flagship proJects – Middlehaven / HMR / Hemlington Grange • Defined by contemporary architecture • Focus on: – Digital sector; – University relationship; and, – Town centre. Middlesbrough’s town centre area Middlehaven • Largest carbon neutral scheme in UK • Homes & Communities Agency and Regional Development Agency Joint venture • Extension of town centre • Simplified delivery Housing Market Renewal • HMR is key to the economic vitality of Middlesbrough New Housing at North Ormesby Boho live/work units - Middlehaven Gresham (facelift works) Grove Hill – awaiting demolition Potential opportunities - Middlesbrough • National focus on UK manufacturing • Tees Valley LEP • Centre of conurbation – health, education, retail • City status – growing confidence • Political ambition • Track record • Teesside University expanding Potential Barriers / Threats • Low values / bank lending problems • Political and geography constraints – population and land • Negative perceptions • Link residents to Jobs • Reliance on the public sector • Weak community / voluntary sector • Lack of Government funding Middlesbrough today.