A ONCE-popular viewing platform at Teesside Airport will make a return following years of closure, it has been confirmed. 

The Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has said the existing viewing area will be renovated to include an elevated viewing platform.

Speaking to The Northern Echo this week, Mr Houchen made the promise that it would be open to the public by the end of the year, aiming for a date in the next few months.

It is the first time a commitment to make the facility available has been made since the original viewing platform was closed a number of years ago.

SEE MORE: Pictures show how Teesside Airport is becoming unrecognisable in major refit

At the time, visitors far-and-wide expressed major disappointment with some taking to social media and calling for it to remain open.

But in recent years, following the airport's overhaul and re-introduction of a number of commercial flights, many have re-ignited calls asking for its return.

The Northern Echo: The Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen at the viewing area Picture: SARAH CALDECOTTThe Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen at the viewing area Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

Confirming the plans to The Echo, Mr Houchen said: "The viewing platform will absolutely be reopening.

"Because as well as getting new flights, and creating jobs at the airport, one of the things that always crops up is people saying 'when is the viewing platform opening.

"People tell me about their stories and the history of them coming down to the airport, watching the flights taking off.

"We want to be able to do that again, it's not just about the future, but about people being able to celebrate a fantastic airport."

It is understood that the new viewing platform will give visitors uninterrupted views of the runway, while early plans suggest it will be around 8ft in height. 

The Northern Echo: Picture: SARAH CALDECOTTPicture: SARAH CALDECOTT

Mr Houchen said: "So we're reopening the viewing platform and are hoping to get it open in the next few months, but I've been told I'm only allowed to say by the end of the year, but hopefully it'll be sooner than that.

"We've got some pretty ambitious plans, we want to make sure people can see all of the flights that are going to be taking off from our airport in the weeks, and months to come."

The plans follow on from pictures earlier this week which revealed how work to transform the terminal building remained "on schedule" for the holiday season.

SEE MORE: Pictures show how Teesside Airport is becoming unrecognisable in major refit

Work is set to be completed by mid-May, in time for the airport's first Ryanair departure on June 1.