A BUSINESSMAN has been appointed to head an organisation behind controversial plans to erase a Teesside neighbourhood.

Neil Etherington has taken over as part-time chairman of Tees Valley Living (TVL), a partnership of five district councils and landlords.

TVL says the chief executive of Redcar Racecourse is now in a race against time to develop "a strategy to create sustainable communities in areas of high risk and failure".

He takes up his role just weeks after the North-East Housing Board approved a £36m housing regeneration programme, which will include the demolition of 37 streets in central Middlesbrough.

Mr Etherington said: "Confirmation of that package will hopefully receive Government approval in the very near future, and we will be able to get on with the critically important job of dealing with failing housing markets in a few months' time.''

The argument shared by the organisation and Middlesbrough Council is that Middlesbrough will become a ghost town unless population drift is arrested by taking drastic action.

Plans include flattening 1,500 older terrace houses in the Middlehaven and Gresham wards, modernisation work to another 6,000, and 750 homes built.

Mr Etherington said: "As someone who has a lifelong commitment to this area, I want to see all sections of the community having access to modern and high-quality homes.''

The 48-year-old added: "I know from my involvement over many years in working to attract new jobs and investment to the area, that housing is probably the single most important element in providing the kind of lifestyle which enables us to retain - and attract - the people we need to help drive forward our economic regeneration.

"The challenge for TVL is to develop and deliver a housing renewal strategy which meets the needs of all parts of the Tees Valley.''