AROUND 1,000 jobs could be created in £22.5m plans to deliver an ‘Aberdeen of the North-East’ industry hub, it has been claimed.

Middlesbrough Council is expected to approve the Tees Advanced Manufacturing Park in the coming days.

Officials say work to create the development, which will include ten buildings across 180,000sq ft, is earmarked to start early next year.

The plans were first put forward in 2013 to create a research and development platform for small and medium-sized companies across Middlesbrough and the wider Tees Valley.

The new park will lie within the Tees Valley Enterprise Zone, with the site already home to TWI’s £10.8m base that houses the Offshore Wind Validation Centre, known for delivering research services for offshore energy sector operators.

Councillor Charlie Rooney, deputy mayor and executive member for city centre strategy, said the development is a real sign of intent, adding bosses hope to make the North-East as recognisable for advanced manufacturing as Aberdeen is for offshore energy sector work.

He said: “The park is the latest evidence of the ambition we have for Middlesbrough, and our confidence that high-tech businesses are ready and willing to invest in the town.

“We have already shown we can deliver jobs and investment in partnership with the private sector, and this is yet another example of that forward-thinking approach.

“We know this is a growth sector, and through the experience of TWI we know we have the location and infrastructure that businesses are crying out for.

“The council will own the 180,000sq ft first phase, with investment modelled to generate an additional income stream to support the delivery of council services.

“In time, the aim is that the park will be synonymous within the advanced manufacturing sector in the same way Aberdeen is with the oil and gas industries.”

Under the proposals, the council will put nearly £12.5m towards the total cost, supported by proposed investment from Tees Valley Combined Authority of £7.5m towards infrastructure and remediation.

A bid for further funding of £2.3m has also been made to the SSI Taskforce, which was founded in the aftermath of Redcar steel firm SSI UK’s collapse to support industry and workers in the region.

Geoff Hogg, managing director of site owner Cleveland Property Investments, added: “This is a hugely exciting opportunity that has the potential to raise Middlesbrough’s profile in this up and coming sector.

“There has already been substantial investment interest from companies looking to locate to this site, and that’s before we’ve even started marketing.”

The council is expected to approve the project at a meeting on Tuesday, December 19.