Durham Tees Valley Airport's £6m plan to create 1,500 jobs

8:00am Thursday 14th June 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Andy Richardson

Durham Tees Valley Airport Durham Tees Valley Airport

A PLANNED massive expansion of Durham Tees Valley airport is among the region’s bids for government regeneration cash.

The £5.9m scheme would create 1,500 jobs with a freight and logistics operation at the ailing airport, which has seen passenger numbers collapse in recent years. The expansion would take about ten years to complete.

New roads and improved transport services will be built on 150 acres of land south of the airport runway.

The Northern Echo understands the land is within the Stockton Borough Council area and that it already has planning consent for aviationrelated development.

Peter Nears, the strategic planning director for airport owner Peel Group, said: “This is a very significant project, not just for the airport, but the area as a whole.”

It has the backing of Tees Valley Unlimited Local Enterprise Partnership, the Homes and Communities Agency, together with Stockton and Darlington borough councils.

“While there are a wide range of possibilities for attracting businesses related to aviation activities, we expect that a key element in the development will be logistics services, given the proximity to the A66, leading to the A1 and the national motorway network,” Mr Nears added.

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The scheme is vying with bidders from across the UK for a share of a £1bn fund set up to create jobs in areas hit hardest by public sector cuts.

The bids include proposals to establish a £40m Tees Valley Business Loan Fund to support small companies that have been refused loans by high street lenders. It would back about 500 businesses and create or safeguard 3,000 jobs across the region.

A bid for £3.8m to develop the region’s petrochemical industry said it would attract £1bn of private sector investment and potentially create 2,000 jobs in the coming years.

An application has been made to help young people take their first step into the world of work.

The fund is expected to be massively oversubscribed with only one-in-four bids set to receive a payout. But the Tees Valley has a strong track record from previous bidding rounds and enterprise chiefs are hopeful that the Government will back the latest plans. Winners are announced in the autumn.

The North East Local Enterprise Partnership, which covers County Durham, Tyneside and Wearside, last night confirmed it was backing bids to the fund from a “healthy number” of private and public sector applicants.

Comments (13)

10:21am Thu 14 Jun 12

GeordieB says...

The best way to ensure the survival of Teesside Airport is for more routes to be laid on for passenger traffic. This doesn't require any Government bailout.

And of course, drop the stupid passenger fee and parking charges.

Just think of how many people who want to go to other places apart from Aberdeen or Amsterdam. They're all spending money in fuel or train / bus tickets going to Leeds-Bradford, Newcastle or further afield. That money could be put into the local economy. All they have to do is put on the routes.
The best way to ensure the survival of Teesside Airport is for more routes to be laid on for passenger traffic. This doesn't require any Government bailout. And of course, drop the stupid passenger fee and parking charges. Just think of how many people who want to go to other places apart from Aberdeen or Amsterdam. They're all spending money in fuel or train / bus tickets going to Leeds-Bradford, Newcastle or further afield. That money could be put into the local economy. All they have to do is put on the routes. GeordieB

10:50am Thu 14 Jun 12

swissball says...

good news, if it works!
good news, if it works! swissball

11:17am Thu 14 Jun 12

freelance says...

'Pie in the sky' - we've read this before over many years.
Not a news story.
Just a 'may do'-'could do' article
'Pie in the sky' - we've read this before over many years. Not a news story. Just a 'may do'-'could do' article freelance

5:23pm Thu 14 Jun 12

always right says...

freelance wrote:
'Pie in the sky' - we've read this before over many years. Not a news story. Just a 'may do'-'could do' article
True. Dream on DTV.
[quote][p][bold]freelance[/bold] wrote: 'Pie in the sky' - we've read this before over many years. Not a news story. Just a 'may do'-'could do' article[/p][/quote]True. Dream on DTV. always right

5:31pm Thu 14 Jun 12

Spy Boy says...

Wasn't this all proposed years ago ? Didn't the local residents all complain about the noise of airliners 24 hours a day and get it stopped ? If I lived by an airport, I'd accept the aircraft noise. Why do these people buy houses there and moan about the noise ? It's like moving to the country and complaining about farmyard smells.
Wasn't this all proposed years ago ? Didn't the local residents all complain about the noise of airliners 24 hours a day and get it stopped ? If I lived by an airport, I'd accept the aircraft noise. Why do these people buy houses there and moan about the noise ? It's like moving to the country and complaining about farmyard smells. Spy Boy

4:52pm Fri 15 Jun 12

always right says...

Spy Boy wrote:
Wasn't this all proposed years ago ? Didn't the local residents all complain about the noise of airliners 24 hours a day and get it stopped ? If I lived by an airport, I'd accept the aircraft noise. Why do these people buy houses there and moan about the noise ? It's like moving to the country and complaining about farmyard smells.
Because....of a word called compensation !. I bought a house near a RAF base a few years ago,found out it was louder than i thought,,so i complained to the RAF and got £16.000 off them without any argument at all. Great stuff i thought.
[quote][p][bold]Spy Boy[/bold] wrote: Wasn't this all proposed years ago ? Didn't the local residents all complain about the noise of airliners 24 hours a day and get it stopped ? If I lived by an airport, I'd accept the aircraft noise. Why do these people buy houses there and moan about the noise ? It's like moving to the country and complaining about farmyard smells.[/p][/quote]Because....of a word called compensation !. I bought a house near a RAF base a few years ago,found out it was louder than i thought,,so i complained to the RAF and got £16.000 off them without any argument at all. Great stuff i thought. always right

6:47pm Fri 15 Jun 12

suecurry says...

Hi,

This sounds great as the airport used to have many intercontinental and international flights. If you remember it was a real hub, a centre for Teesside and North Yorkshire.

Today as far as I know there are just a few flights to Holland - so unless something improves soon - eventually there may not be an airport on Teesside

You probably know this but those that nearly closed Teesside airport are now involved in running South Tees Hospital.

There seems to be a parallel with the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton.

If things don't improve soon - eventually there won't be a hospital in Northallerton

Concerned

Sue
Hi, This sounds great as the airport used to have many intercontinental and international flights. If you remember it was a real hub, a centre for Teesside and North Yorkshire. Today as far as I know there are just a few flights to Holland - so unless something improves soon - eventually there may not be an airport on Teesside You probably know this but those that nearly closed Teesside airport are now involved in running South Tees Hospital. There seems to be a parallel with the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton. If things don't improve soon - eventually there won't be a hospital in Northallerton Concerned Sue suecurry

9:15pm Fri 15 Jun 12

John Justice says...

Of course this good news has to get past the good residents of Middleton st George et al and Councillor Doris Jones. The previous time a similar project was in the pipeline said people objected and subsequently the opportunity of job creation and business expansion was lost.
Of course this good news has to get past the good residents of Middleton st George et al and Councillor Doris Jones. The previous time a similar project was in the pipeline said people objected and subsequently the opportunity of job creation and business expansion was lost. John Justice

6:20pm Sat 16 Jun 12

trafficman says...

John Justice should add a few facts to his comments. The previous time a similar project was suggested, the numbers in terms of tonnage and aircraft were outrageous, something like a jumbo jet landing or taking off every 10 minutes 24 hours a day. It wasn't objections that prevented it going ahead but the stupidity of the then management.

I've lived close to the airport for more than 20 years and would be happy to see more holiday flights and the south side developed to create jobs. However, just imagine the scenario of moving close to a busy road only to learn that a 6 lane motorway is being built.

As for Councillor Doris Jones - more power to her elbow!
John Justice should add a few facts to his comments. The previous time a similar project was suggested, the numbers in terms of tonnage and aircraft were outrageous, something like a jumbo jet landing or taking off every 10 minutes 24 hours a day. It wasn't objections that prevented it going ahead but the stupidity of the then management. I've lived close to the airport for more than 20 years and would be happy to see more holiday flights and the south side developed to create jobs. However, just imagine the scenario of moving close to a busy road only to learn that a 6 lane motorway is being built. As for Councillor Doris Jones - more power to her elbow! trafficman

7:34pm Sat 16 Jun 12

John Justice says...

The airport has since the 2nd world war changed and developed its character and business. Such change and expansion is a necessary fact of life. Trafficman and local residents need to understand that change is ongoing and has historically had a negative impact on many communities as well as positives. I am not saying it was wrong or right to have protested the previous suggested development in the early 1990s but the fact remains that sometimes if one chooses to live in certain areas then subsequent developments may well go ahead in spite of locals objecting that their quality of life will be disturbed. The quality of life of many others could well rise through increased job and business opportunities. Not at any cost I grant you but sometimes a community just has to accept change.
The airport has since the 2nd world war changed and developed its character and business. Such change and expansion is a necessary fact of life. Trafficman and local residents need to understand that change is ongoing and has historically had a negative impact on many communities as well as positives. I am not saying it was wrong or right to have protested the previous suggested development in the early 1990s but the fact remains that sometimes if one chooses to live in certain areas then subsequent developments may well go ahead in spite of locals objecting that their quality of life will be disturbed. The quality of life of many others could well rise through increased job and business opportunities. Not at any cost I grant you but sometimes a community just has to accept change. John Justice

8:39pm Sat 16 Jun 12

trafficman says...

I'm sure there is no argument that change is a fact of life. However, change such as this has to be managed and where big business is concerned those organising the change don't always care about residents who are affected by their decisions ie the little man. One of the problems with the current situation compared to that of the 1990's is that the population of MSG has probably trebled since then. More residents = more objections.

If no one challenges the decisions of big business the man and woman in the street would be obliterated. I hope that, given his name, John Justice agrees that residents are entitled to a fair hearing and justice.
I'm sure there is no argument that change is a fact of life. However, change such as this has to be managed and where big business is concerned those organising the change don't always care about residents who are affected by their decisions ie the little man. One of the problems with the current situation compared to that of the 1990's is that the population of MSG has probably trebled since then. More residents = more objections. If no one challenges the decisions of big business the man and woman in the street would be obliterated. I hope that, given his name, John Justice agrees that residents are entitled to a fair hearing and justice. trafficman

1:33am Sun 17 Jun 12

johnny_p says...

I'd like to see it, but find myself suppressing a yawn here....
I'd like to see it, but find myself suppressing a yawn here.... johnny_p

10:12am Sun 17 Jun 12

John Justice says...

I totally agree with you trafficman and I am at the moment lending my name as a resident to object to a proposed wind farm near to the area where I live. While I may not have made myself clear with my comments it is important that the objections made by local communities are not only made for their own interests but also for the wider community also. If it meant that you succeeded in protecting your own interests to the detriment of others be it financialy or otherwise then surely that cannot be right. I also agree that there still needs to be strong local support for communities and am aware that new government legislation is aimed at negating this.
I totally agree with you trafficman and I am at the moment lending my name as a resident to object to a proposed wind farm near to the area where I live. While I may not have made myself clear with my comments it is important that the objections made by local communities are not only made for their own interests but also for the wider community also. If it meant that you succeeded in protecting your own interests to the detriment of others be it financialy or otherwise then surely that cannot be right. I also agree that there still needs to be strong local support for communities and am aware that new government legislation is aimed at negating this. John Justice

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