Mayor welcomes new planning powers

A regeneration boss has welcomed new planning powers aimed at accelerating development, growth and job creation.

Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen says the additional powers will give regional leaders greater control over significant developments, including schemes of more than 150 homes, buildings exceeding 30 metres and projects larger than 15,000sq metres.

Mayors will also be able to grant upfront permission for some developments, allowing construction to begin without developers making individual planning applications.

The reforms will provide greater influence over how national housing funding is allocated locally, with Homes England continuing to lead the largest projects while aligning investment and expertise with priorities agreed by mayors.

New powers will also allow mayors to levy developments to help fund major infrastructure.

Mayor Houchen says the measures could help unlock further investment and employment across the Tees Valley.

He said: “I will do everything I can to bring good quality, well paid jobs for local people.

“We’ve already led the way in showing what can be done when we slash red tape to get projects moving across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.

“This is another good move which will ultimately allow me to bring more growth and jobs to our region.”

The region’s construction sector contributed £833 million to the economy in 2025, with employment increasing 32 per cent since 2014.

Construction employment is forecast to continue growing, supporting more than 21,000 jobs by 2034.

The new powers form part of wider efforts to give regional leaders greater control over development and investment decisions.

Mayor Houchen added: “Our construction industry is one of the strongest in the country – we get things done and projects built.

“Having these powers will also mean I’ll be able to give our brilliant construction firms and their local staff more work to further boost our economy.”

The Tees Valley Combined Authority’s Local Growth Plan sets out its long-term ambitions for driving investment, jobs and economic growth across the region. You can read it here.

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