BOSSES at a loss-making airport have hit out at the Tees Valley Mayor for questioning the investment they have put into the site.

Peel Group, the owners of Durham Tees Valley Airport, also claim that Ben Houchen has not yet presented any proposal or business plan for the purchase of the airport – and that suggestions that detailed negotiations are underway are “inaccurate”.

But Mr Houchen said the people of the Tees Valley will “judge for themselves” the level of investment that has been made, and that he will present his plans in “due course”.

The mayor, who pledged to buy back the airport from Peel after he was elected in May, said he was pulling together a “comprehensive set of options” for the site.

A spokesperson for Peel said: “Our chairman met with the Mayor shortly after his election in May and took the opportunity to explain our strategy for the future growth of the Airport.

“There is common ground in recognising the economic and regional benefits that a successful airport brings and during this initial meeting views were exchanged on respective aspirations in making this happen for the wider benefit of the Tees Valley area and beyond."

The group said they were “disappointed” that the Mayor should suggest they had not invested in the airport.

“The facts are that since becoming the majority shareholder in 2003 Peel has invested in the region of £40m.

“We will continue to work closely with all partners, including our local authority shareholders, the Mayor and Tees Valley Combined Authority.

“To date the Mayor has not presented any proposal or business plan for purchase of the airport and to suggest that detailed negotiations are underway is inaccurate.”

In response to the statement, Mr Houchen said: his plans to buy back the airport remain “unchanged”.

“It is curious that Peel would make this statement given my regular contact with Robert Hough, Peel Airports’ Chairman and I’m sure the people of the Tees Valley will judge for themselves the investment Peel has claimed to have made.

“I am currently pulling together a comprehensive set of options to purchase Teesside Airport, which is an exhaustive piece of work with a lot going on behind the scenes.

“No deal can happen overnight, and this will take time, but I can assure you that I will be presenting my plans for the airport in due course.”