L I V E W O R K P L A Y IN THE TEES VALLEY

Similar documents
WYNYARD BUSINESS PARK,

Foreword. Sir Robin Wales Mayor of Newham

Bolton Council Invest in Bolton. Welcome INVEST IN

BANKSIDE. Welcome to Bankside

a strategic location a fantastic logistics network

A1, A3, A5 RETAIL OPPORTUNITIES WITH FULL PLANNING PERMISSION

Regenerating Coastal Communities Seminar 27 th January 2017

Chandler's Wharf Retail Park Bridge Road, STOCKTON-ON-TEES, TS18 3BA

LISBON STREET, LEEDS LISBON STREET, LEEDS DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY

INVESTMENT summary PHASE 1 COMPLETED AND FULLY TENANTED. Spacious studios from just 89,995. Impressive rental yields of 7.7%

DEVELOPMENT MAP 2017/18

A wonderful award-winning welcome to The Coniston Hotel Country Estate & Spa.

A place for everyone. Brand new office, retail and leisure opportunities; welcome to the most exciting mixed-use development in the north east.

Events with extra. Residential conferences Day meetings Exhibitions Group bookings Corporate events Training Team building Special events

LUXURY LODGE HOLIDAYS. Tel:


Clevedon Ben Rhydding, Ilkley

LEEDS CITY REGION LEGAL SERVICES A THRIVING CENTRE OF LEGAL EXCELLENCE

Hotels. Delivering rooms in prime locations

at Martello Beach Holiday Park

Proud to be making a difference in Leeds. tcs-plc.co.uk

ENJOY WELWYN HATFIELD!

LEEDS CONFERENCING FACTS

Cornelian Fields is a collection of highly desirable three and four bedroom family homes located less than three miles to the south of Scarborough.

RELOCATING TO PLYMOUTH

HOTEL CINEMA LEISURE RESTAURANTS BARS

Northern Powerhouse Portfolio

LIVERPOOL INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

STUDENT S SAY. Middlesbrough in three words? Unique, interesting, fulfilling.

EXPERIENCE STOKE-ON-TRENT VISITSTOKE.CO.UK 2018/19

CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP at Imperial War Museums

LUXURY LODGE HOLIDAYS. Tel:

at Seawick and St Osyth Beach Holiday Parks

Where Business and Nature thrives

The Shankly Hotel Millennium House, 60 Victoria St, Liverpool L1

HISTORY IN THE MAKING. The UK s most important city centre development outside London. Being delivered by:

A socially responsible and ethical investment UNIQUE HOTEL INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY LOCATED ON BLACKPOOL SEA FRONT

at Chichester Lakeside Holiday Park

Creating a High Quality Business District

Penlands Green HAYWARDS HEATH

TITANIC QUARTER VISION

52 Burwood Road Burwood

M6 CORRIDOR. Strategic Infrastructure Prospectus

Liverpool City Region Today:

CITY RAIL LINK. New Public Transport Stations and Development Opportunities at Karangahape Road, Newton and Aotea Quarter

The Word triumphs at national RICS awards

MULTIPLE UNIQUE VENUES ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES

One Arthouse Square - "Cool, Creative, Urban" 1 Arthouse Square, Seel Street, Liverpool L1 4AZ

Middlesbrough by day find your way

60 acres. Bryan-College Station, play. stay. work. walkable. urban. destination. that redefine

LISTED BUILDING AND FIRE STATION CENTRAL SITE WHITGIFT STREET OLD PARADISE GARDENS

Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport 2017 Year in Review

Coventry and Warwickshire

CUMBRIA DESTINATION MANAGEMENT PLAN : SUMMARY

Hartwell House is a magnificent stately home of great importance in

Where Business and Nature thrive

CREATIVE. A city of authentic and internationally renowned experiences. Creative City of Adelaide Strategic Plan

LONGBRIDGE WEST COMMERCIAL COFTON PARK PARK VIEW RESIDENTIAL 66 MILLION BOURNVILLE COLLEGE. teaching 3,500 students in a range of industries

SPONSOR AND EXHIBITOR OPPORTUNITIES

CONFIRMED VENUES AND DATES FOR 2013 REVISED EVENT FORMAT AND PRIZE FUND BREAKDOWN

Salisbury. A place to invest.

Land Economics Weekend: Scotland the Brave 1 June to 4 June 2011

LUXURY LODGE HOLIDAYS. Tel:

Water, Water Everywhere

BEAUTIFUL HOMES THAT LAST A LIFETIME

@ENERGETICA_UK ENERGETICA.UK.COM BUSINESS PARKS

PARK CRESCENT LUTON LONDON. The best of both worlds.

AVAILABLE MARCH 19 EXCHANGED

TRANSFORMING EAST LONDON...

Visitor Economy Update Durham Tourism Management Plan (DTMaP) Michelle Gorman, Managing Director

Marine with Plymouth University. An introduction to Plymouth University s Marine Institute

HIGHLIGHTS: TOUR INCLUSIONS:

Llandudno Junction. Regeneration Proposals for the Future. December 2009

WEHC 2012 Big Six Self Drive

The development is split across two principle sites and a number of ancillary locations across the village.

LUXURY LODGE HOLIDAYS. Tel:

60 acres. Brazos Valley, walkable urban destination. work shop play connect. that redefine. creating a

The Magic of Cornwall

DESTINATION HAPPINESS

Catering Tender 2018 Expression of Interest

Get Away. Feel Relaxed. Yorkshire s premier holiday home park

Old Wokingham Road, Crowthorne, Berkshire RG40 3DU

IPSWICH MEANS BUSINESS

HIGHLIGHTS: TOUR INCLUSIONS: +44 (0)

Tourism 201 CHAPTER 10

ASHTON GATE SPORTS & CONVENTION CENTRE. A New Home For Bristol Flyers

Contact Details. 36 Deluxe Rooms 84 Premium Rooms 22 Executive Rooms 20 Junior Suites 38 Luxury Suites 1 Presidential 1 Royal suite

Princes Dock. At Liverpool Waters, Liverpool City Centre

GOLD COAST, QUEENSLAND AUSTRALIA

WELCOME. Introducing DUKES Oceana, Dubai Where quintessential British charm meets cosmopolitan luxury

at Steeple Bay Holiday Park

Invest NorthTyneside. The MJ and Local Futures Investment Guide

ST JAMES STREET NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE NE1 4NF

A GREAT PLACE TO INVEST. wearedoncaster.co.uk

Iconic heritage building to be converted into Fraser Suites Hamburg

From: OECD Tourism Trends and Policies Access the complete publication at:

BROUGHT TO YOU BY JULIE TWIST PROPERTIES JULIETWIST.CO.UK JULIE TWIST PROPERTIES

Where Space is Premium

CONNECTED URBAN LIVING

THE COUNTRY CLUB LUTON HOO HOTEL, GOLF & SPA

Transcription:

L I V E W O R K P L AY IN THE TEES VALLEY

P L A C E L I V E SETTING THE SCENE CULTURAL ASSETS // RETAIL // HOUSING // EDUCATION 02 04

W O R K P L AY CELEBRATE SUCCESS // FUTURE PLANS & OPPORTUNITIES LEISURE FACILITIES // EVENTS // NATURAL ASSETS // VISITORS 18 24

02 PLACE Characterised by its industrial heritage and framed by rugged coastline and beautiful moorland with the winding River Tees at its heart, the Tees Valley is a diverse, exciting and vibrant place to live, work and visit. Those wanting to explore the outdoors are invited to blow away the cobwebs with a walk along Saltburn s Victorian pier the first iron pier to be built on the North East coast and the only one remaining or climb the 1,049ft to the top of Roseberry Topping to take in the breathtaking views. Get closer to nature by exploring the ponds, meadows, marsh and woodland within Billingham Beck Valley Country Park or Darlington s Brinkburn Local Nature Reserve. Eston Hills Located on the North East coast, the Tees Valley is made up of five local authorities Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees. Each area is characterised by its communities, its architecture, its natural assets and its industry. Nestled between the North York Moors and County Durham, the Tees Valley is an undiscovered gem, offering a truly diverse mix of people, enterprise, heritage and environment. The beauty of the area is hard to resist, with rolling hills, miles of beach, acres of parkland, wonderful wildlife sites and several areas of special scientific interest including Hartlepool s Submerged Forest and Redcar s Lovell Hill Pools. Delve into the past with a visit to one of the Tees Valley s impressive historic venues such as Preston Park Museum and Grounds, Hartlepool Historic Quay and Stewart Park, home of the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum. The area provides a range of living accommodation, from executive homes to Victorian town houses, high-spec apartments to riverside living, and visitors are spoiled for choice with a wealth of high-quality hotels. Excellent transport links also mean those living in the Tees Valley enjoy easy access to the rest of the country, with Newcastle, Northumberland, Cumbria, County Durham, the North York Moors National Park and the Pennines all within reach. The drive time to Leeds, York or Newcastle is around one hour. Kielder Forest Park in Northumberland can be reached within two hours, and a three-hour drive would take you to the Lakes, Edinburgh or Manchester. Also, as Darlington Railway Station sits on the East Coast Main Line a train journey to London takes just over two and a half hours. 02 IN THE TEES VALLEY

IN THE TEES VALLEY 03

L I V E I N T H E T E E S VA L L E Y 04

Saltburn Headland Yarm High Street Redcar Beacon Gisborough Priory

Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art

0 7 CULTURAL ASSETS The Tees Valley is home to a number of flagship cultural venues and attractions catering for all tastes. Try Redcar and the beautiful Kirkleatham Museum, a destination for a wide range of activities and events throughout the year and home to some of the rarest Anglo-Saxon finds ever discovered. As well as permanent exhibitions there is a regular temporary exhibition programme in the Little Gallery and Pavilion, highlighting local artistic talent. Or choose instead to take a wander around Centre Square. In the heart of Middlesbrough it's the largest civic space in Europe, overlooked by the impressive Town Hall and mima (Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art). This 19m award-winning gallery showcases an international programme of fine art and craft from the 1900s to the present day. It has welcomed more than one million visitors through its doors since it opened in 2007. Middlesbrough Town Hall is the premier Concert Hall in the Tees Valley which stands proudly in the heart of Middlesbrough Town Centre. The 125-year-old, Grade II* listed building is in the process of acquiring funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund for a major 7.7m refurbishment to improve the performance space and visitor facilities within the building. The project will see the creation of a high quality bar/cafe area with glass atrium, restoration of key heritage areas including the Courtroom, Cells and Old Fire Station and the development of a community engagement and events programme. This will significantly enhance the overall visitor experience, allowing users to enjoy the heritage and historical features of this stunning building, and enable the venue to continue to deliver an exciting entertainment programme of live theatre, modern and classical music and comedy to rival any venue in the country. Head along the banks of the beautiful River Tees and you'll find Preston Hall, a former Georgian gentleman s residence which recently benefited from a 7m refurbishment. This first-class museum and parkland welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Preston Hall Museum and Parkland IN THE TEES VALLEY 07

At Preston Hall, visitors can step back in time, wander around the varied museum collection, visit the period Victorian street, sample afternoon tea, explore the nature reserve that's teeming with wildlife, take in the sights of the Victorian walled kitchen garden or let the children burn off some energy on the new adventure play area. Travel to the coast and you'll find Hartlepool Maritime Experience. Once through the doors you'll find a meticulous recreation of a 17th Century sea port. The attraction is brought to life with costumed guides, interactive displays and a varied events programme. Berthed within the attraction is the mighty HMS Trincomalee. Built in Bombay in 1817 the ship is one of the last of the Nelson-era frigates and the oldest British warship afloat today. Those wanting to take their seats for the latest shows and concerts should head to one of the area s theatres, such as Darlington s Civic, which plays host to a number of touring companies and offers a diverse and high-quality programme. The Grade II listed Edwardian theatre was built in 1907 and is the most complete surviving example of the design work of theatre specialists Owen and Ward of Birmingham. It is the only traditional working Proscenium theatre in the area. Grant funding has recently been confirmed through Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England to support an 11m restoration, redevelopment and extension of the venue. Young audiences are also very much catered for in Darlington. Alongside the Civic Theatre is Hullabaloo, the North s pioneering children s theatre, making and promoting opportunities for children up to the age of 16. Finally, the Tees Valley has a global reputation for being the home of the world s first steam-worked public railway - the 1825 Stockton & Darlington Railway. The Head of Steam museum in Darlington is located on the original route, and amongst its fascinating exhibits is the world-famous Stephenson's 'Locomotion No. 1', the first steam locomotive to haul passengers on a public railway. Darlington Civic Theatre Darlington Civic Theatre

Hartlepool Maritime Experience

10 TOWN CENTRES & RETAIL There has been a huge amount of investment to support the growth and offer of town centres across the Tees Valley with all major High Street brands well represented in the local area. Middlesbrough town centre is one of the largest retail centres in the North East, packed with a great choice of national retailers, independent stores, restaurants, bars and entertainment venues. The pedestrianised Linthorpe Road and Newport Road form the retail heart of the town, and there are four shopping centres within a minute s walk of each other. It s only a quick walk to the fabulous independent, designer shopping area where you ll find the award-winning fashion retailer Psyche, and Baker Street, home of the newest, chicest independent shops, cafes and more. Stockton High Street Neighbouring Stockton has just put the finishing touches to a 25m transformation of its High Street, much to the delight of shoppers and traders. The town features a range of independent retailers, cafes and restaurants, and boasts a growing specialist market and events programme, all nestled comfortably among major High Street names. 10 IN THE TEES VALLEY

Darlington town centre sees the old and the new sit perfectly side by side; the distinctive heritage character is represented by the Victorian Market Hall and Clock Tower, and the Market Square provides space for events and pavement cafes, as well as perfect views of the 12th Century St. Cuthbert s Church. was awarded BBC s Best High Street in Britain award in 2007. Similar niche retailers and independent stores and cafes can be found close to the dramatic gothic gable towers of the 14th Century Priory in the picturesque market town of Guisborough. Acting as a gateway to the beautiful North Yorkshire Moors, the bustling town is steeped in history. The Tees Valley also boasts a range of out of town retail centres including Teesside Park in Thornaby, which includes major retailers including Boots, M&S, Next, H&M, Mothercare and Laura Ashley. Middlesbrough Town Centre At the heart of the town centre, the pedestrian focused areas are home to the large selection of national high street stores, unique independent shops and weekly outdoor markets. Darlington also has an enviable and growing number of restaurants, cafes and bars serving food and drink to suit every taste. In a recent survey Darlington was ranked in the top 3% of UK shopping venues. At Hartlepool, Middleton Grange Shopping Centre is the focus of a multi-million-pound investment strategy that will re-invigorate the retail offer in the town centre. The redevelopment will herald a new chapter in the life of the town centre, acting as a catalyst to attract further investment. The independent retail offer and cafe culture is further strengthened by nearby Yarm High Street, which is home to boutiques, shops, cafes and restaurants. The well-known, popular High Street Darlington Town Centre IN THE TEES VALLEY 11

12 HOUSING From coast to country the Tees Valley offers a wide range of housing, from executive homes in Nunthorpe, Yarm and Wynyard to riverside and marina living in Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and Stockton. There are also Victorian town houses in Saltburn and seaside cottages in East Cleveland. Homes are provided in a variety of locations which offer a wide choice of high-quality housing in terms of style, size and tenure, in order to meet the needs and aspirations of current and future residents. Whether you live by the Tees Valley coast or in the area s beautiful countryside you re never far away from one of the bustling town centres. Queen Street Housing Renewal, South Bank, Redcar and Cleveland Many family housing developments are taking shape across the area, with leading homebuilders offering a range of properties. Those who prefer older properties will find the Tees Valley offers some impressive period homes. Darlington boasts some of the best urban housing in the country, with a mixture of high-quality Victorian town houses, residential apartments and detached and semi-detached housing within easy walking distance of the town centre. Transport links to the rest of the UK and beyond are excellent courtesy of the A1, A19, A66, East Coast Main Line and Durham Tees Valley Airport. South Bank Eco-Village, Redcar and Cleveland Lingfield Point, Darlington 12 IN THE TEES VALLEY

Grey Towers Village, Nunthorpe

14 IN THE TEES VALLEY 14 EDUCATION The Tees Valley is home to two universities, the University of Durham Queen s Campus in Stockton and Teesside University in Middlesbrough and Darlington. The universities provide modern teaching, research and accommodation in high-quality settings. Darlington College As the first ever modern university to win the Times University of the Year award (2009), Teesside University is internationally recognised for its research and teaching. It has particularly strong expertise in the fields of health, digital, engineering, arts, media and social studies. The university has been described as the UK s leading higher education institution for working with business and last year received the Queen s Anniversary Prize for work at world-class level in the field of enterprise and business engagement. The university campus has benefited from nearly 250m of investment in recent years, including the 30m Campus Heart scheme which will create a vibrant and energised space at the centre of the university through the construction of a state-of-theart teaching centre and extensive landscaping. The university s Darlington Campus provides advanced vocational training with links to SMEs and blue chip companies alongside plans for a state-ofthe-art centre for skills, leadership and innovation in emerging technology sectors at Darlington College Educational Village. The University of Durham is one of the most prestigious universities in the UK and Queen s Campus on the banks of the River Tees in Stockton is home to more than 3,000 students and features state-of-the-art teaching, accommodation and sports and recreational facilities. The Tees Valley also boasts several high-quality sixth form and further education colleges, such as Middlesbrough College, attended by more than 10,000 students, Redcar and Cleveland College, and Darlington s Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, one of the top performing colleges in the country. Haughton Education Village Sited close to the banks of the River Tees, Middlesbrough College inhabits an impressive 70m campus which includes state-of-the-art facilities including MC6, a purpose-built sixth form, a professional training restaurant, health and beauty salons, the Hazel Pearson Theatre and an operational construction site. The college is in the top 10% for results in the UK and is investing 20m into its STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) facilities, including the construction of a new 12m centre of engineering excellence.

University of Durham, Stockton campus

Middlesbrough College

Redcar and Cleveland College consolidated its provision into a new 26m campus in 2008 and added a new 4m Higher Education and Conference Centre extension in 2010. The college offers a comprehensive range of full-time vocational courses, from Entry Level to Level 3, leading to workrelated qualifications that give employers the skills they are looking for. Hartlepool College of Further Education opened its 53m campus in 2011, providing the largest apprenticeship programme in the Tees Valley. The facility sits alongside the internationally-renowned Cleveland College of Art and Design (CCAD). CCAD is undertaking a multi-million-pound investment in a new campus facility to stimulate growth in creative industries and the development of an Innovation and Skills Quarter in the heart of the town centre. Stockton Riverside College is located in attractive, modern and well-equipped buildings on the banks of the River Tees in Stockton. The college focuses on general and vocational further and higher education along with academic courses offered at its sister site, SRC Bede Sixth Form in Billingham. The Tees Valley is also home to the highly-respected Yarm School, ranked Second Best Secondary Independent School in the North East by The Sunday Times. The school is located on the banks of the River Tees in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees and offers places from nursery and preparatory through to sixth form. Red House School, ranked top Co-Educational Independent School without a Sixth Form by The Sunday Times can also be found in Stockton-on-Tees. The school provides places for girls and boys aged three to 16 achieving excellent GCSE results and an outstanding rating for the Early Years Foundation Stage by the Independent School Inspectorate. The Tees Valley has a significant number of highquality primary and secondary schools across the area. In the last five years, in excess of 100m has been spent on new build and refurbishment of primary and secondary schools, creating modern and vibrant educational establishments to support young people from age three to 18 reach high educational achievement. North Shore Academy, Stockton-on-Tees Cleveland College of Art and Design, Hartlepool Redcar and Cleveland College IN THE TEES VALLEY 17

W O R K I N T H E T E E S VA L L E Y 18

Queen's Meadow Business Park, Hartlepool Lingfield Point, Darlington South Tees Business Park, Redcar and Cleveland

Middlesbrough s Boho Zone

21 WORK Over the last 20 years, the industrial base of the Tees Valley has evolved and changed to meet the needs of modern industry. Heavy industrial sites remain, but change is evident across the area with significant development and growth in the digital and creative sectors, low carbon technology, logistics, advanced manufacturing and engineering. Tees Transporter Bridge Across all sectors the Tees Valley is at the forefront; developing offshore wind projects in the North Sea; exploring opportunities for industrial symbiosis; pioneering opportunities for resource recovery and developing new feedstock technologies; developing a cluster of biomass, biofuels and bioethanol plants; leading on carbon capture and storage technology; and building on world-class businesses including Huntsman, Ineos, SABIC, GrowHow and Sembcorp. The area is home to a range of key clusters in the chemical sector including refining, petrochemicals, speciality and fine chemicals, plastics, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. Recent multi-million pound investments include the 250m biofuels facility at Wilton, now Europe s largest bioethanol plant (Ensus) and the new 200m Low Density Polyethylene Plant (SABIC). The process industry sectors based in Tees Valley are a key driver of not only the regional, but also the national economy, accounting for 13% of jobs across the Tees Valley and generating sales in excess of 10bn per annum. IN THE TEES VALLEY 21

Across the region there are more than 1,400 companies in these sectors directly involved or in the supply chain of these industries within North East England generating 26bn of annual sales. Together they employ 190,000 people and the sector exports 12bn each year. Wilton International, on the outskirts of Redcar, provides a strategic location for many major chemical producers with a number of fully serviced prime development plots available for future development. Next door, the Wilton Centre provides office, laboratory and pilot plant accommodation for innovative businesses. Set in a 75-acre landscaped park with its own lake and courtyards, the centre accommodates over 60 companies, including a number of national and global leaders. Another of the area s success stories is the development of the North East s subsea engineering cluster. Darlington is home to several global players in the subsea sector including Modus Seabed Intervention, Deep Ocean and Subsea Innovation. A partnership between Modus Seabed Intervention Ltd, MTCS, Darlington College, Teesside University, Tees Valley Unlimited and Darlington Borough Council resulted in the opening of the C-State centre for Subsea Technology Awareness, Training and Education. The centre, the first of its kind in the world, opened in 2014 and is located at Darlington College at Central Park. Central Park is a key flagship site where education, innovation and business come together. A recent development includes the pioneering 38m National Biologics Manufacturing Centre, which carries out research and trial production of biologic medicines helping the UK increase its market share of this rapidly-expanding global market. Adapting to changing economic trends has seen the emergence of a prominent service sector economy in the Tees Valley, supported by a wealth of high-quality office accommodation, a growing focus on high-tech digital and creative industries, nationally significant research and development facilities and thriving retail and leisure sectors. One such development is DigitalCity, an initiative that s led to the development of a supercluster of digital businesses linked to the specialist courses delivered by Teesside University. It s one of the strongest clusters of digital businesses in the North of England, with many of them taking shape at the Boho Zone in Middlesbrough. Boho provides more than 10,000sqm of office accommodation and business incubation space across state-of-the-art new build and refurbished Victorian buildings and is home to more than 70 digital, creative and artistic business. Wilton International, Redcar and Cleveland Lingfield Point, Darlington 22 IN THE TEES VALLEY

Industry on the Redcar coast

P L AY I N T H E T E E S VA L L E Y 24

Tall Ships, Hartlepool Marina Live music in Hartlepool Stockton International Riverside Festival

Festival of Thrift, Lingfield Point, Darlington

EVENTS Tees Valley has a diverse 27The landscape and environment ranging from the coastal areas of Hartlepool and Redcar, along the River Tees flowing through Middlesbrough and Stockton, through to more rural areas in the surrounding Cleveland Hills and North Yorkshire Moors. This landscape provides the perfect backdrop for an endless range of events, leisure facilities and visitor attractions that make the Tees Valley a great place to live, work and play. The area has a growing reputation for hosting largescale events such as Stockton International Riverside Festival (SIRF), a vibrant cultural festival which is brought to life by internationally-renowned street artists and performers. The event attracts more than 60,000 visitors every year. The Tees Valley was also behind the UK s first Festival of Thrift. The event, at Lingfield Point in Darlington, placed the focus on all things handmade, homemade, renovated, rejuvenated, recycled and upcycled. This major event was held for the second time in 2014 and attracted crafters from across the UK along with more than 40,000 visitors. Other popular events held in the area in recent years include Hartlepool s hosting of the 2010 Tall Ships Race, attracting more than one million visitors, BBC Proms in the Park and the Middlesbrough Mela, the largest and most spectacular multicultural festival in the North East. Held at Centre Square in the heart of Middlesbrough Town Centre the Mela brings together world-class music, local talent, a Mela Bazaar and a range of activities for the family to enjoy. The event has gone from strength to strength since it was first held in 1990. The Tees Valley s rugged coastline has provided the perfect setting for many major events including adventure sports, with Saltburn hosting the 2013 UK Pro Surf Championships along with the national Power Kiting Championships. Saltburn also provided a stunning backdrop for a hugely-popular Food Festival where thousands of people flocked to see cookery demonstrations and sample produce from scores of artisan traders. These large-scale events are underpinned by a wide-ranging programme of musical, cultural and sporting events including triathlon, road racing, cycling and golf as well as several seasonal and cultural celebrations. The Riverside Stadium, home of Middlesbrough Football Club, can also be found in the Tees Valley. The venue is within sight of Middlesbrough s iconic Transporter Bridge and seats more than 34,500. Odin s Glow event, Roseberry Topping IN THE TEES VALLEY 27

Fireworks at Hartlepool Marina Centre Square, Middlesbrough Saltburn Pier

The Middlesbrough 10K

LEISURE FACILITIES 30From white water rafting to state-of-the-art sports domes, Tees Valley offers a wealth of leisure facilities. An Olympic-standard white water course takes pride of place at Stockton-on-Tees. The course, created in 1995, was officially opened by HRH Queen Elizabeth II in 2012 after a 4.6m redevelopment. It s capable of hosting top-class competitions as well as catering for novice and disabled paddlers. The Tees Valley boasts some amazing leisure centres. Billingham Forum in Stockton-on-Tees was recently refurbished at a cost of 18m providing a swimming pool, ice skating rink, sports hall, gym and theatre, all under one roof. Middlesbrough Sports Village In Middlesbrough work is largely complete on an 18m sports village which will feature an indoor sprint track, 400m outdoor athletics track and field facility, 250m velodrome, 1.5km cycle track, floodlit sports pitches, multi-functional sports and performance spaces, a 75-station gym and studio, therapy rooms, child s play, cafe and changing facilities. In Redcar, more than 75m has recently been invested in creating a beautiful esplanade and the iconic, seven-storey Redcar Beacon, which houses a cafe, small business units and provides visitors with a 360 degree panoramic, rooftop view of the majestic coastline and nearby hills. A further 31m has also been invested in the Redcar and Cleveland Leisure and Community Heart, an exciting and vibrant new leisure and civic facility. Situated in Redcar town centre, close to the train station, this new building accommodates a twostorey business centre, the Council Chambers and a large leisure centre that incorporates pleasure pools, sports halls, a flow rider for budding surfers and a state-of-the-art gym. At Seaton Carew an 8m Sports Domes development provides superb sporting facilities including 3G football pitches, indoor golf, gym facilities and a holistic sensory room. The twin-dome development can be seen from miles around and is recognisable by its unique design. A third dome is planned which will house a permanent ice rink and also serve as a significant performance venue able to cater for 5,000-strong audiences. Similar large, multi-sport leisure centres with swimming pools, gyms and dry sports can also be found at Mill House Leisure Centre in Hartlepool, Splash in Stockton and the Dolphin Centre in Darlington. National standard athletics facilities are also available in Darlington as part of the Eastbourne sports complex. White Water Rafting, Tees Barrage, Stockton-on-Tees 30 IN THE TEES VALLEY

Flow Rider, Redcar and Cleveland Leisure and Community Heart

Redcar Seafront

Hartlepool Sports Domes Watersports on the River Tees at Stockton Forum Ice Rink, Billingham

Saltburn Beach

35 NATURAL ASSETS The Tees Valley has a varied landscape from the rugged coastline and long sandy beaches to breathtaking parklands and nature reserves which span the length of the River Tees. Summerhill Country Park, Hartlepool The area also enjoys easy access to some of the most stunningly beautiful places in the UK including the North York Moors National Park, the Northumberland Coast, Lindisfarne, Kielder Forest Park and the Vale of York. Many are just a short drive away and offer a superb range of recreational opportunities for those who love the outdoors. There is also plenty to explore within the Tees Valley, including Hartlepool which is dominated by its impressive coastline featuring the rugged landscape of the Headland a magnesian limestone promontory offering a mix of teeming rock-pools and pocket beaches. At nearby Seaton Carew the beach extends for more than two miles from just beneath Hartlepool Marina all the way to the mouth of the River Tees. Further along the coast lies Saltburn, a town that has retained much of its original charm as a Victorian seaside resort. The 120ft pier and promenade can be accessed by the oldest operational waterbalanced cliff tramway in Britain. The wide-open beach attracts more than one million visitors each year with easy links to coastal walks and the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. A gateway to the Yorkshire and Durham Dales is provided by the Quaker town of Darlington, with the Yorkshire Dales National Park and upper Teesdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty only 30 minutes drive from the Tees Valley. Weaving its way through the Tees Valley is the River Tees. Since the construction of the Tees Barrage at Stockton-on-Tees in the mid-1990s the upstream section of the river, flowing towards Darlington, has been turned into an 11-mile linear lake. It s resulted in improved water quality, a growing freshwater fish population and increased biodiversity in the water and along the river bank. The freshwater also provides the ideal setting for recreational activities on the river and its adjoining banks with a number of rowing and boating clubs as well as walkways, footpaths and nature reserves making up the River Tees Heritage Park. IN THE TEES VALLEY 35

South Park, Darlington One of the most recent attractions to open in the Tees Valley is RSPB Saltholme, a popular destination for bird enthusiasts from across the UK. A network offers walks, trails and hides criss-crosses the site and offer chances to view birdlife all year round. A popular cafe, shop and meeting facilities are housed inside a visitor centre. The Tees Valley is also home to a number of excellent parks and outdoor areas. Stewart Park in Middlesbrough has won multiple awards since the completion of a 4.4m improvement project focusing on the museum, visitor centre and café. A similar 7m investment project was carried out at Preston Park in Stockton, resulting in improvements to the museum, the stunning Victorian street, acres of parkland and the creation of an exciting play area with a skatepark. Summerhill Countryside Park in Hartlepool boasts free access walks and trails making it popular with visitors and wildlife, and sits alongside some glorious landscaped parks including Ward Jackson Park. South Park, in Darlington, was the first Victorian Park in the North East of England. Its size has increased to its present 91 acres and superb restoration work has added new sensory, rock and rose gardens to the existing award-winning displays. Visitors can also enjoy a splendid lake, bandstand, children s play areas, skateboard park, a seasonal café and educational facilities for school groups. 32 IN THE TEES VALLEY

Roseberry Topping

VISITOR AND HOSPITALITY FACILITIES 38Whether you are looking for a day out at the beach, a top-quality meal, history and culture or a spa day and golf, the Tees Valley has a wide range of outstanding places to visit and high-quality accommodation. Rockliffe Hall, Darlington Hartlepool Marina provides an outstanding north eastern base for sailors from across Europe. The Marina is a great success story, offering 500 permanent berths as well as ample space for visiting sailors and providing first-class facilities from laundry facilities to a full chandlery service all on a 24-hour year-round basis. It also provides the stunning backdrop for a host of top quality bars, restaurants and attractions including Hartlepool s Maritime Experience, home of HMS Trincomalee and also the Museum of Hartlepool. The Tees Valley has quality hotels ranging from quirky boutique hotels in listed buildings through to town centre hotels catering for business use and visitors to the area. The area is also home to some top class hotel and spa golf facilities including Rockcliffe Hall, located on the banks of the River Tees outside the village of Hurworth, near Darlington. Rockcliffe Hall is the only Five Red Star resort in the North of England, and is the current home of the English Senior Open. The venue offers 61 luxury guest bedrooms, three restaurants, an award-winning spa, and a championship 18-hole golf course. Other venues include four-star Wynyard Hall, set within 150 acres of historical landscaped parkland, offering function rooms for wedding receptions or corporate events, 19 individually-designed bedrooms and a range of beauty and body treatments in the lakeside spa. Championship golf facilities are also available at the adjacent Wynyard Golf Club. Brasserie Hudson Quay, Middlesbrough 38 IN THE TEES VALLEY

Hartlepool Marina

Wynyard Golf Course, Stockton-on-Tees Gisborough Hall, Guisborough Further opportunities for hotel and spa breaks are offered at Gisborough Hall, a Grade II listed building. The luxury hotel offers easy access to the North Yorkshire Moors National Park and nearby beaches. Rockliffe Hall Golf Course, Darlington Rushpool Hall, Saltburn The Tees Valley also has a wide range of restaurants, cafes and eateries including the Michelin-starred Raby Hunt on the outskirts of Darlington, the Michelin-recommended Brasserie Hudson Quay at Middlehaven in Middlesbrough, Rushpool Hall in Saltburn, The Thistle in Middlesbrough and the planned Holiday Inn in Middlesbrough. The Tees Valley can satisfy all tastes and budgets, from a business lunch to Sunday brunch, family tea to fine dining.

CONTACT DETAILS Darlington Borough Council Town Hall, Feethams, Darlington County Durham, DL1 5QT Tel 01325 380651 www.darlington.gov.uk customerservices@darlington.gov.uk Hartlepool Borough Council Customer Services, Civic Centre Victoria Road, Hartlepool, TS24 8AY Tel 01429 266522 www.hartlepool.gov.uk customer.service@hartlepool.gov.uk Middlesbrough Council Town Hall, Albert Road Middlesbrough, TS1 9FX Tel 01642 245432 www.middlesbrough.gov.uk contactcentre@middlesbrough.gov.uk Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council Kirkleatham Street, Redcar, TS10 1RT Tel 01642 774774 www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk contactus@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council Municipal Buildings, Church Road Stockton, TS18 1LD Tel 01642 393939 www.stockton.gov.uk regeneration@stockton.gov.uk Tees Valley Unlimited Cavendish House, Prince's Wharf, Thornaby Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland TS17 6QY Tel 01642 524400 www.teesvalleyunlimited.gov.uk info@teesvalleyunlimited.gov.uk

L I V E W O R K P L AY IN THE TEES VALLEY