A MAYOR’S ambitious plan to transform an airport by bringing it into public ownership is expected to be approved today.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen’s £40m transformation of Durham Tees Valley Airport is expected to get the green light after the five Labour council leaders in the Tees Valley confirmed earlier this week they would support it.

Today’s vote for the Tees Valley Investment Plan, which includes a decision on the acquisition of land at the South Tees Development Corporation Site and a number of investment projects across the region, could create almost 17,000 jobs, according to the Tees Valley Combined Authority.

Setting out his vision in today’s Northern Echo, Mr Houchen said: “Today is a critical day in the history of the Tees Valley. We can either continue down a road of defeatist inaction, or start down a new route of ambition, opportunity and increased prosperity.

"Today, the leaders of the Tees Valley’s five boroughs get to vote on my investment plan which will see Teesside Airport return to public ownership, as part of a £588m programme of investments across our region. Each council leader has committed to put party politics aside and vote for the plan, which I wholeheartedly welcome.

"The 10-year rescue plan sets out how we will stop the airport from closing in 2021, work to secure a new low-cost airline, secure ten additional routes by 2022, achieve 1.4 million passengers by 2029, return the airport to profit, scrap the hated £6 passenger fee, stop the planned 350-home development at the airport, and of course change the airport’s name back to Teesside International.

"The wider investment plan will deliver money to complete the purchase of the former Redcar steelworks site, earmark over £250m for transport infrastructure, £146m to support business growth and job creation, £55m for colleges and schools, and a whole host of other projects to create good quality jobs in each of the five Tees Valley boroughs.

"By regenerating the Redcar steelworks site and working with councils to invest in each borough, we will grow the region’s economy and create good jobs for local people. By saving our airport, we will tie all of these projects together and make them more than they would otherwise have been.

"Our businesses will have great access to global markets, our universities and colleges will be a more attractive proposition, and new opportunities for our growing offshore wind industry can be explored. This plan, the one I’m seeking support for today, could drive the creation of 7,600 jobs and add £420m to our local economy each year.

"Taking our airport back into secure public ownership is the only way to deliver this, and to stop it closing in 2021. There is no other option, and no other deal on the table, so I am glad the region’s council leaders have pledged their support. If all goes well and they back the deal in today’s vote, the first order of business is to finalise the legal and commercial paperwork required to complete the purchase, then to start work with our new operator to implement our turnaround plan."