A £50M regeneration plan for the Tees Valley has been given the go-ahead.

News of the green light, delivered on Christmas Eve, has been described as the ideal launch pad for exciting times ahead.

The blueprint has been drawn up by the Tees Valley Partnership, whose chairman, Mr Alistair Arkley, said: "It is aimed at long-term strategic issues, not simply a few quick-fixes."

Proposals in the plan include:

l Backing for a Darlington scheme to help unemployed from deprived communities to get jobs;

l Expanding programmes to boost communities in East Cleveland;

l Enhancing Darlington's role as a "gateway" to the North-East and Tees Valley;

l Considering the feasibility of a business innovation centre;

l Working with One North-East and Teesside university to develop a digital multi-media "city";

l Supporting community initiatives in Darlington;

l Funding units at Teesside university for graduates to develop businesses in the digital, multi-media and food industries.

Mr Arkley was speaking after regional development agency, One North-East, approved the Partnership's three-year action plan.

The scheme is an ambitious programme of projects, ranging from the "digital city" to initiatives aimed at encouraging more young people to enter further and higher education and the development of an "enterprise academy".

Mr Arkley added: "We have spent the past year developing our vision of the way forward for the Tees Valley, based on a recognition that the industries and assumptions which have driven our local economy for the past 200 years cannot sustain our economy in the 21st century.

"We have been formulating proposals for turning that vision into reality."

The action plan builds on objectives set out in both the Tees Valley vision process and regional economic strategy.

"Of course, the projects in the action plan are just part of the story because major investment is also coming into the area directly through One North-East and the new urban regeneration company," said Mr Arkley.

"With the way now clear, I believe we shall see the pace of 'on the ground' activity increase rapidly."

He said there could be major announcements from both the Partnership and the regeneration company in the weeks ahead.

"But this is a three-year plan and it could be some time before many of the elements are completed," he said