View source for Tees Valley

{{short description|Combined authority area in North East England}}
{{about|the political area|the geographic area|Teesdale|the built up area|Teesside}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Tees Valley
| settlement_type         = [[Combined authority]] area
| image_skyline           = {{multiple images |align=center |perrow=1 / 2 |total_width=250px
 |image1=Albert Road, Middlesbrough.JPG
 |image2=View along Prebends Row (geograph 5989074).jpg
 |image3=Stockton-on-Tees (32665049094).jpg
 |image4=York Road, Hartlepool - geograph.org.uk - 4065997.jpg
 |image5=High Street from the west - geograph.org.uk - 797956.jpg
 }}
| imagesize               = 
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = [[Middlesbrough]], [[Darlington]], [[Stockton-on-Tees]], [[Hartlepool]] and [[Redcar]]
| image_flag              = 
| flag_alt                = 
| image_shield            = 
| shield_alt              = 
| shield_link             = 
| image_blank_emblem      = Tees Valley logo 2023.svg
| blank_emblem_size       = 
| blank_emblem_type       = [[Wordmark]]
| blank_emblem_link       = 
| etymology               = 
| nickname                = 
| motto                   = 
| image_map               = Tees Valley Combined Authority UK.svg
| mapsize                 = 
| map_alt                 = 
| map_caption             = Tees Valley shown within England
| pushpin_map             = 
| pushpin_map_alt         = 
| pushpin_map_caption     = 
| pushpin_mapsize         =
| pushpin_label_position  = 
| coordinates             = {{Coord|54.605|-1.257|region:GB_type:adm2nd|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint           = 
| coordinates_footnotes   = 
| subdivision_type        = [[Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name        = [[United Kingdom]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Country]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[England]]
| subdivision_type2       = [[Regions of England|Region]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[North East England|North East]]
| subdivision_type3       = [[Ceremonial counties of England|Ceremonial counties]]
| subdivision_name3       = [[County Durham]] (north)<br>- [[River Tees]] -<br/>[[North Yorkshire]] (south)
| subdivision_type4       = 
| subdivision_name4       = 
| established_title       = LEP established
| established_date        = 2011
| established_title1      = CA established
| established_date1       = 1 April 2016
| named_for               = [[River Tees]]
| seat_type               = Administrative HQ
| seat                    = Cavendish House, [[Thornaby]]
| parts_type              = [[Districts of England|Districts]]
| p1                      = [[Borough of Darlington|Darlington]]
| p2                      = [[Borough of Hartlepool|Hartlepool]]
| p3                      = [[Borough of Middlesbrough|Middlesbrough]]
| p4                      = [[Redcar and Cleveland]]
| p5                      = [[Borough of Stockton-on-Tees|Stockton-on-Tees]]
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes    = <ref name="Combined Authority leadership">{{cite web |url=https://teesvalley-ca.gov.uk/about/leadership/ |title=Leadership |website=Tees Valley Combined Authority |access-date=11 July 2024}}</ref>
| government_type         = [[Combined authority]]
| governing_body          = [[Tees Valley Combined Authority]]
| leader_title            = [[Tees Valley Mayor|Mayor]]
| leader_name             = [[Ben Houchen]]
| leader_party            = [[Conservative Party (UK)|C]]
| leader_name1            = 
| leader_title2           = 
| leader_name2            = 
| leader_title3           = 
| leader_name3            = 
| leader_title4           = 
| leader_name4            = 
<!-- Area -->
| total_type              = 
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->
| area_footnotes          = <ref name="popstats">{{United Kingdom district population citation}}</ref>
| area_total_km2          = <!-- auto adds district areas -->
 {{formatnum:
 {{Round|
 {{sum
 |{{formatnum:{{English district area|GSS=E06000001|RND=2}}|R}}
 |{{formatnum:{{English district area|GSS=E06000002|RND=2}}|R}}
 |{{formatnum:{{English district area|GSS=E06000003|RND=2}}|R}}
 |{{formatnum:{{English district area|GSS=E06000004|RND=2}}|R}}
 |{{formatnum:{{English district area|GSS=E06000005|RND=2}}|R}}
 }}
 }}
 }}
| area_land_km2           = 
| area_water_km2          = 
| area_rank               = 
<!-- Population -->
| population_footnotes    = <ref name="popstats" />
| population_as_of        = {{English statistics year}}
| population_total        = <!-- auto adds district populations -->
 {{formatnum:
 {{sum
 |{{formatnum:{{English district population|GSS=E06000001}}|R}}
 |{{formatnum:{{English district population|GSS=E06000002}}|R}}
 |{{formatnum:{{English district population|GSS=E06000003}}|R}}
 |{{formatnum:{{English district population|GSS=E06000004}}|R}}
 |{{formatnum:{{English district population|GSS=E06000005}}|R}}
 }}
 }}
| population_rank         = [[Combined authority#Current combined authorities|11th]]
| population_density_km2  = <!-- auto adds district populations and divides by district areas -->
 {{Density|
 {{sum
 |{{formatnum:{{English district population|GSS=E06000001}}|R}}
 |{{formatnum:{{English district population|GSS=E06000002}}|R}}
 |{{formatnum:{{English district population|GSS=E06000003}}|R}}
 |{{formatnum:{{English district population|GSS=E06000004}}|R}}
 |{{formatnum:{{English district population|GSS=E06000005}}|R}}
 }}
 |{{sum
 |{{formatnum:{{English district area|GSS=E06000001|RND=2}}|R}}
 |{{formatnum:{{English district area|GSS=E06000002|RND=2}}|R}}
 |{{formatnum:{{English district area|GSS=E06000003|RND=2}}|R}}
 |{{formatnum:{{English district area|GSS=E06000004|RND=2}}|R}}
 |{{formatnum:{{English district area|GSS=E06000005|RND=2}}|R}}
 }}
 }}
| population_demonym      = 
<!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| demographics_type1      = 
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| demographics1_info1     = 
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->
| demographics_type2      = 
| demographics2_footnotes = 
| demographics2_title1    = 
| demographics2_info1     = 
| timezone1               = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
| utc_offset1             = +0
| timezone1_DST           = [[British Summer Time|BST]]
| utc_offset1_DST         = +1
<!-- Codes -->
| postal_code_type        = [[Postcodes in the United Kingdom|Postcode areas]]
| postal_code             = {{Hlist | [[TS postcode area|TS]] | [[DL postcode area|DL]] }}
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom|Dialling codes]]
| area_code               = 01642
| iso_code                = 
| blank1_name             = [[GSS coding system|GSS code]]
| blank1_info             = E47000006
| blank2_name             = [[International Territorial Level|ITL code]]
| blank2_info             = 
| website                 = {{URL|teesvalley-ca.gov.uk}}
| module                  = 
| footnotes               = 
}}
'''Tees Valley''' is a [[combined authority]] area in [[North East England]], around the lower [[River Tees]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.centreforcities.org/combined-authority/tees-valley/|title=Tees Valley|website=Centre for Cities|access-date=16 February 2020}}</ref> The area is not a geographical [[valley]].{{cn|date=September 2025}} The combined authority covers five council areas: [[Borough of Darlington|Darlington]], [[Borough of Hartlepool|Hartlepool]], [[Borough of Middlesbrough|Middlesbrough]], [[Redcar and Cleveland]] and [[Borough of Stockton-on-Tees|Stockton-on-Tees]]: this includes areas in both [[County Durham]] and [[North Yorkshire]] counties.

The town of [[Middlesbrough]] is the largest population centre in the area. The borough of Middlesbrough is the smallest of the five, at only {{convert|{{English district area|GSS=E06000002}}|sqkm|sqmi}} and a population of {{English district population|GSS=E06000002}}: the Stockton-on-Tees borough (including multiple towns) is the largest with an area of {{convert|{{English district area|GSS=E06000004}}|sqkm|sqmi}} and a population of {{English district population|GSS=E06000004}}, as of {{United Kingdom statistics year}}.

From 1968 until 1974, parts of the area were included in the [[County Borough of Teesside]] council area. This was replaced by [[Cleveland (county)|Cleveland county]]; it had four borough councils which became [[unitary authorities of England|unitary authorities]] after the county was abolished in 1996. Darlington became a unitary authority in 1997; the five authorities formed a [[Local Enterprise Partnership]] in 2011, further collaboration between the five authorities lead to [[Tees Valley Combined Authority]] being created in 2016.

==Background==
{{see also|County Borough of Teesside|Cleveland (county)|Teesside}}
{{confusing|section|date=September 2021}}
The [[River Tees]]' geographical valley is traditionally known as [[Teesdale]]. For centuries, north Tees was under the [[Prince-bishopric of Durham]]. Both Darlington and Stockton had ancient wards. [[Middleton St George]], Hartlepool and Billingham were in Stockton ward, the latter two were also in a district called Hartness.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/antiquities-durham/vol3/pp90-98|title=Parish of Hart|access-date=7 September 2021}}</ref> South Tees was under a [[wapentake]] called [[Langbaurgh Wapentake|Langbaurgh]], which had been the Easton part of the ancient region of [[Cleveland, Yorkshire|Cleveland]], in [[Yorkshire]]'s [[North Riding]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/yorks/north/vol2/pp217-220|title=The wapentake of Langbaurgh (west): Introduction|access-date=7 September 2021}}</ref>

[[Urban district council|Urban districts]] (such as [[Greater Eston|Eston]], [[Billingham]] and [[Saltburn, Marske and New Marske|Saltburn and Marske by the Sea]]) and parts of [[rural district]]s, as well as [[municipal borough]]s (such as [[Stockton-on-Tees]], [[Thornaby-on-Tees]] and [[Redcar]]) and [[county boroughs]] ([[Middlesbrough]]) were merged into the [[County Borough of Teesside]] in 1968. However in 1974, the county borough was disbanded.

The 1974 reforms created the [[county of Cleveland]], including [[Hartlepool]], the former Urban Districts of [[Guisborough]], Saltburn and Marske, Skelton and Brotton and Loftus. Four [[non-metropolitan district|boroughs]] were also created. Hartlepool, Stockton which had formerly been part of County Durham were created along with Middlesbrough and a new District Council  of Langbaurgh (this took its name from the ancient Danelaw Wapentake of Langbaurgh of which if had formed the northern part.) These had formerly being parts of the North Riding of Yorkshire.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1995/187/made|title=The Cleveland (Structural Change) Order 1995|access-date=7 September 2021}}</ref>

Local government reorganisation in 1996 saw the county of Cleveland broken up: the boroughs became [[unitary authority|unitary authorities]]. The boroughs were placed into the counties of [[North Yorkshire]] and [[County Durham]] for [[ceremonial counties of England|ceremonial purposes]]. In 1997, the [[Borough of Darlington]] also became a [[unitary authority]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1997/460/made?view=plain|title=The Durham County Council (Borough of Darlington) (Staff Transfer) Order 1997|access-date=7 September 2021}}</ref>

==Governance==
===UK Parliament===
Tees Valley is divided into seven and a part UK parliamentary [[borough constituencies]]:
*[[Darlington (UK Parliament constituency)|Darlington]]
*[[Hartlepool (UK Parliament constituency)|Hartlepool]]
*[[Middlesbrough (UK Parliament constituency)|Middlesbrough]]
*[[Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland (UK Parliament constituency)|Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland]]
*[[Redcar (UK Parliament constituency)|Redcar]]
*[[Sedgefield (UK Parliament constituency)|Sedgefield]] (shared with the [[North East Combined Authority]])
*[[Stockton North (UK Parliament constituency)|Stockton North]]
*[[Stockton South (UK Parliament constituency)|Stockton South]]
Each constituency is made up of [[ward (politics)|wards]]. Four constituencies were held by the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] after the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 general election]], up by three since the [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 general election]]. This was expanded to five after the [[2021 Hartlepool by-election]]. Labour hold the other two. Sedgefield's partial seat is also represented by a Conservative MP, as of the 2019 election. The two Middlesbrough seats have the largest majorities for either party. The Middlesbrough constituency has a sizeable Labour majority, whereas the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency has a strong Conservative majority.

===Authorities===
{{Main|Tees Valley Combined Authority}}

{{overlay
|image = Tees Valley Mayoral Election 2021.svg |image_width = 300 |image_height = 183 |width = 300 |height = 183
|overlay1 = [[Borough of Darlington|Darlington]]
*{{English district population|GSS=E06000005}}
*{{English district area|GSS=E06000005}} mi<sup>2</sup>
|overlay2 = [[Borough of Hartlepool|Hartlepool]]
*{{English district population|GSS=E06000001}}
*{{English district area|GSS=E06000001}} mi<sup>2</sup>
|overlay3 = [[Borough of Stockton-on-Tees|Stockton-on-Tees]]
*{{English district population|GSS=E06000004}}
*{{English district area|GSS=E06000004}} mi<sup>2</sup>
|overlay4 = [[Borough of Middlesbrough|Middlesbrough]]
*{{English district population|GSS=E06000002}}
*{{English district area|GSS=E06000002}} mi<sup>2</sup>
|overlay5 = [[Redcar and Cleveland]]
*{{English district population|GSS=E06000003}}
*{{English district area|GSS=E06000003}} mi<sup>2</sup>
|overlay1top = 100 |overlay1left = 55
|overlay2top = 20 |overlay2left = 140
|overlay3top = 80 |overlay3left = 110
|overlay4top = 90 |overlay4left = 145
|overlay5top = 65 |overlay5left = 185
}}
Tees Valley Combined Authority has its headquarters at [[Teesdale Business Park|Cavendish House]], [[Thornaby]]. The area has 5 borough councils, each council has a representative in the combined authority. The TVCA, amends the mayor's annual budget (by two-thirds majority). It does not have the power to block the mayor's directives.

===Mayors===
The [[Mayor of Tees Valley]] is a directly elected politician who, along with the Combined Authority, is responsible for the strategic government of Tees Valley.<ref name=":0">{{cite legislation UK|act=Cities and Local Government Devolution Act|year=2016|chapter=1|section=2|date=28 January 2016|access-date=23 November 2019|mode=cs1}}</ref> There are other mayors for the boroughs of [[Mayor of Middlesbrough|Middlesbrough]] and Stockton-on-Tees.<ref name="Mayor">{{cite web|title=Stockton-on-Tees has a new Mayor...|url=https://www.stockton.gov.uk/news/2020/june/stockton-on-tees-has-a-new-mayor/|access-date=17 October 2020|website=Stockton Borough Council}}</ref> Hartlepool also [[Mayor of Hartlepool|had a Mayor]] from 2002 to 2013.

The current Tees Valley Mayor is [[Ben Houchen]]. The Mayor is responsible for Tees Valley's strategic planning and is required to produce or amend a plan for each electoral cycle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/449/made|title=The Tees Valley Combined Authority Order 2016|publisher=Legislation.gov.uk|access-date=10 August 2016}}</ref>

===Lord Lieutenants===
Two [[Lord Lieutenants]] ([[Lord Lieutenant of Durham|Durham]] and [[Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire|North Yorkshire]]) are appointed by the borough's ceremonial counties.

==Economy==
{{see also|Teesside}}
The following is a chart of the Gross Value Added to the UK economy by the Tees Valley Combined Authority region, aggregated by industry.<ref>{{cite web |last=Trevor |first=Fenton |date=31 March 2017 |title=Regional GVA(I) by local authority in the UK |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/grossvalueaddedgva/datasets/regionalgrossvalueaddedbalancedbycombinedauthorityintheuk |url-status=live |access-date=8 August 2022 |website=Office for National Statistics |archive-date=8 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808114422/https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/grossvalueaddedgva/datasets/regionalgrossvalueaddedbalancedbycombinedauthorityintheuk }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style=text-align:right
|+''Nominal'' Gross Value Added (£ millions)
!Year
!Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing; Mining & Quarrying; Electricity & Gas; Water, Sewage & Waste Management
!Manufacturing
!Construction
!Wholesale & Retail Trade; Transportation & Storage; Accommodation & Food Services
!IT
!Finance
!Real Estate
!Professional, Scientific & Technical; Administration & Support Services
!Public Administration & Defence; Compulsory Social Security; Education; Health & Social Work
!Arts & Recreation; Other
!'''Total'''
|-
|1998
|411
|1,670
|403
|1,223
|265
|249
|1,147
|522
|1,394
|229
|'''7,513'''
|-
|2000
|421
|1,676
|521
|1,300
|330
|231
|1,195
|551
|1,567
|259
|'''8,050'''
|-
|2002
|461
|1,553
|577
|1,577
|467
|239
|1,226
|553
|1,709
|334
|'''8,696'''
|-
|2004
|601
|1,690
|646
|1,800
|522
|373
|1,272
|747
|2,060
|377
|'''10,087'''
|-
|2006
|775
|1,655
|774
|1,836
|534
|511
|1,363
|772
|2,260
|384
|'''10,864'''
|-
|2008
|718
|1,852
|816
|1,936
|515
|458
|1,466
|820
|2,487
|409
|'''11,478'''
|-
|2010
|723
|1,859
|705
|2,067
|445
|453
|1,369
|886
|2,706
|406
|'''11,620'''
|-
|2012
|720
|1,665
|781
|1,853
|482
|511
|1,581
|1,005
|2,775
|411
|'''11,784'''
|-
|2014
|766
|1,657
|774
|2,141
|688
|481
|1,570
|1,107
|2,918
|375
|'''12,478'''
|-
|2016
|649
|1,684
|762
|2,489
|665
|431
|1,654
|1,109
|2,948
|411
|'''12,803'''
|}

===Enterprise zone===
The '''Tees Valley Enterprise Zone''' is an [[enterprise zone]] which encourages industrial development. It was initiated by the [[local enterprise partnership]] Tees Valley Unlimited and its creation was announced by the government in 2011. At its launch, the zone contained 12 sites. Four of these sites offer enhanced [[capital allowance]]s, aimed at large manufacturers. These sites are [[Wilton International]] and South Bank Wharf, both in Redcar and Cleveland, Port Estates in Hartlepool and New Energy and Technology Park in [[Billingham]], Stockton-on-Tees. The remaining sites offer reduced [[business rates in England and Wales|business rates]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thejournal.co.uk/business/business-news/teesside-celebrates-enterprise-zone-approved-4425624|title=Teesside celebrates as enterprise zone approved|newspaper=The Journal|date=17 August 2011|access-date=15 March 2015|archive-date=3 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403015525/http://www.thejournal.co.uk/business/business-news/teesside-celebrates-enterprise-zone-approved-4425624|url-status=dead}}</ref> In March 2015 the government announced that a thirteenth site is to be added, South Bank Wharf Prairie, aimed at oil and gas decommissioning business.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/business/business-news/potential-many-hundreds-jobs-new-8871322|title=Potential for 'many hundreds' of jobs at new Teesside enterprise zone|last=Price|first=Kelley|newspaper=The Gazette|date=18 March 2015|access-date=23 March 2015}}</ref>

===Businesses===
[[File:Industrial Teesside - geograph.org.uk - 1709361.jpg|thumb|[[The BOC Group|BOC]] plant on Teesside]]
[[Imperial Chemical Industries]] (ICI) operated here until the late 1990s on three chemical sites at Wilton, Billingham and Seal Sands. ICI was broken up, and its many chemical manufacturing units are now operated by a large number of companies that have acquired its assets. The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), a national innovation catapult{{clarify|date=June 2017}}, is based at the Wilton Centre, the former corporate headquarters of ICI, which has become a multi-company research and development centre: along with CPI there are now some 60 other companies, including the cluster body NEPIC, using these R&D and business development facilities. This centre is now one of Europe's largest R&D facilities focusing on developments in the chemistry-based process industries. The area is a chemicals processing area, but recently it has diversified to become the UK's leading site for renewable [[Biofuel in the United Kingdom|biofuel]] research. This industrial activity is taking place in a collaborative environment facilitated by the economic cluster body, the North East of England Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC).

Hartlepool has a [[Hartlepool nuclear power station|nuclear power station]], and there is a conventional [[Wilton Power Station|CHP power station]] and a biomass power station operated by [[Sembcorp]] on the Wilton chemical site.[https://web.archive.org/web/20130731173915/http://hfg.heerema.com/content/yards/heerema-hartlepool-uk/ Hereema Fabrication Group] make North Sea platforms at the A1048/[[A179 road|A179]] roundabout in Hartlepool.

[http://www.wiltonengineering.co.uk/ Wilton Engineering's] 50 acre fabrication and maintenance site is in [[Port Clarence]]. [[Barker and Stonehouse]] make furniture north of Middlesbrough next to the A66/[[A178 road|A178]] junction. The [[Teesside Steelworks]] near Redcar was the biggest blast furnace in Europe and was operated in its final years by Sahaviriya Steel Industries (SSI). [[Tata Steel Europe]] operate a pipe works at Hartlepool, whilst British Steel operate a heavy [[Teesside Beam Mill|beam mill]] near Middlesbrough and a special sections mill at [[Skinningrove Steelworks]]. [[Able UK]] operate the biggest [[dry dock]] in the UK near Seaton Carew, Hartlepool where ships can be dismantled and oil rigs can be dismantled or refurbished.

The many chemistry-based businesses on Teesside<ref>{{cite book|publisher=NEPIC|title=NEPIC Directory|url=http://www.nepic.co.uk/media_centre/publications/directory.asp|access-date=22 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130713090828/http://www.nepic.co.uk/media_centre/publications/directory.asp|archive-date=13 July 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> include [[Huntsman Corporation|Huntsman Tioxide]] plant at [[Greatham, County Durham|Greatham]] makes [[titanium dioxide]]. Huntsman's European headquarters are in Wynyard. Johnson Matthey Catalysts and Fujifilm Dyosynth Biologics have manufacturing units in Billingham while the Lucite International Acrylics factory and the Mitsubishi battery chemical plant are on the other side of the town. Exwold Technology operate their two extrusion and packaging facilities in Hartlepool. Banner Chemicals are adjacent to the A66 in Middlesbrough. [[Aldous Huxley]]'s visit to the former ICI plant in Billingham inspired ''[[Brave New World]]'' and this unit now makes fertiliser for Growhow, using 1% of the UK's natural gas. SABIC petrochemicals and polymers, Lotte Chemicals PET and PTA plants, Biffa recycled polymers, Huntsman polyurethanes and the Ensus Biofuels all operate at Wilton. ConocoPhillips refinery, BP Cats, Harvest Energy Biodiesel unit, Greenery Fuels, Fine Organics, Vertelus speciality chemicals and Ineos Nitriles are all based at Seal Sands, with Vopak and Simon Storage tank storage businesses nearby. Sita are upgrading{{when|date=June 2017}} their unit at Haverton Hill. [[Premier Foods|Marlow Foods]] produce [[Quorn]], and [[KP Snacks]] make [[McCoy's (crisp)|McCoy's]] in Billingham. [[Santander UK]]'s mortgages division is located in [[Thornaby]]. [[Tetley|Tetley Tea]] have had their only [[tea bag]] factory in the UK at [[Eaglescliffe]], in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees, since 1969. It is the largest tea bag factory in the world and makes 18 billion tea bags a year. Its distribution centre is at nearby [[Newton Aycliffe]] in County Durham.

===Teesport===
[[File:Container Yard,Teesport - geograph.org.uk - 1453129.jpg|thumb|right|[[Teesport]]]]
[[Teesport]] is on the [[River Tees]] and is currently the third largest port in the United Kingdom, and amongst the ten biggest in Western Europe, in terms of tonnage shipped. Its size is due to the local steel and chemical industries.

This port handles over 56 million tonnes of goods per annum which are mainly associated with the local petrochemical, chemical and steel processing industries.

The port is an important piece of logistical infrastructure for the [[Northeast of England Process Industry Cluster|NEPIC cluster]] of process companies. [[PD Ports]], who own Teesport, is headquartered in Middlesbrough adjacent to Middlesbrough railway station.

== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Tees Valley}}

<!-- Self-maintaining population table -->
{{Tees Valley population table}}

==Landmarks==
{{Gallery
|Saltburn Cliff Lift and Pier - geograph.org.uk - 3599664.jpg|[[Saltburn-by-the-Sea|Saltburn]]'s [[Saltburn Pier|pier]] and [[Saltburn Cliff Lift|cliff lift]]
|Middlesbrough Walk (38537666224).jpg|'Bottle O' Notes' sculpture and [[Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art]] (MIMA)
|Preston Hall, Eaglescliffe.jpg|[[Preston Hall, Preston-on-Tees|Preston Hall]]
|Hartlepool (32693612673).jpg|[[NMRN Hartlepool]]
|File:Gisborough Priory (nez202).jpg|[[Gisborough Priory|Guisborough priory]]
|File:Yarm Viaduct - geograph.org.uk - 6000189.jpg|[[Yarm Viaduct]]
|File:Christmas Walk Newport Bridge (31102933304) (cropped).jpg|[[Tees Newport Bridge]]
|File:Darlington market place - geograph.org.uk - 2942184.jpg|[[Darlington Market Hall]] with clock tower
}}

==Transport==
===Road===
'''Main'''
{|class="wikitable"
!width=50px|Road
!Route
!Notes
|-
|{{jct|country=GBR|AM|1|height=15}}
|Darlington western bypass. South to Leeds and North to [[Tyne and Wear]]
|A [[motorway]] standard stretch of the [[A1 road (Great Britain)|A1]]
|-
|{{jct|country=GBR|A|19}}
|South for the rest of Yorkshire and North to [[Tyne and Wear]].
|Between Stockton & Middlesbrough, then Stockton & Hartlepool, as aproxoximate borough borders.
|-
|{{jct|country=GBR|A|66}}
|Most of Tees Valley is served, terminating between Middlesbrough and Redcar, linking to Hartlepool via the {{jct|country=GBR|A|19}}, running to the west coast of England.
|The road is motorway standard around Darlington.
|-
|{{jct|country=GBR|A|67}}
|Darlington to Stockton
|It is the main road for [[Teesside Airport]], running adjacent to the railway, and was previously designated as the {{jct|country=GBR|A|66}} from Darlington to Eaglescliffe and {{jct|country=GBR|A|19}}, Eaglescliffe southwards through Yarm.
|-
|{{jct|country=GBR|A|68}}
|Darlington to Edinburgh
|Runs west of Darlington.
|}
'''Triple-digit roads'''
{|class="wikitable"
!width=100px|Road
!width="20%"|From
!width="20%"|To
!Notes
|-
|{{jct|country=GBR|A|135|name1=Yarm Road}}
|[[Stockton-on-Tees]]
|[[Egglescliffe]]
|
|-
|{{jct|country=GBR|A|139|name1=}}
|[[Stockton-on-Tees]]
|[[Billingham]]
|
|-
|{{jct|country=GBR|A|167|name1=}}
|[[Topcliffe, North Yorkshire|Topcliffe]]
|[[Kenton Bar]]
|
|-
|{{jct|country=GBR|A|171 }}
|{{jct|country=GBR|A|66}} as Cargo Fleet Lane
|[[Scarborough, North Yorkshire|Scarborough]]
|Until the road goes out of the region, it is also known as: Sunnyfields, Orchard Way, Ormesby Bank, Middlesbrough Road, Whitby Road, Fancy Bank, Birk Brow Road & Fancy Bank
|-
|{{jct|country=GBR|A|172}}
|{{jct|country=GBR|A|66}} as Marton Road, Middlesbrough
|{{jct|country=GBR|A|19}} as Stocking Hill
|also known as Stokesley Road, Pannierman Lane & Dixons Bank
|-
|{{jct|country=GBR|A|173}}
|{{jct|country=GBR|A|172}} ([[Middlesbrough]])
|[[Skelton-in-Cleveland]]
|Also known as Church Lane & Skelton Ellers.
|-
|{{jct|country=GBR|A|174|name1=}}
|[[Thornaby]]
|[[Whitby]]
|As the road goes out of the region, it is known for a short stretch, as Apple Orchard Bank
|-
|{{jct|country=GBR|A|177|name1=}}
|[[Stockton-on-Tees|Stockton]]
|[[Durham, England|Durham]]
|
|-
|{{jct|country=GBR|A|178|name1=}}
|[[Middlesbrough]]
|[[Hartlepool]]
|
|-
|{{jct|country=GBR|A|179|name1=}}
|{{jct|country=GBR|A|19}}
|[[Hartlepool]]
|
|}
'''Bus'''

Most of the area is served by Stagecoach's Tees Flex network, a pre-bookable service running in and around the valley, mainly serving Stockton on Tees, Darlington and Redcar and Cleveland. Services are operated by a dedicated fleet of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter minibuses.

===Rail===
'''Stations'''
The stations, by borough, are as follows: 
*Darlington:
**{{rws|Darlington}}, {{rws|North Road}}, {{rws|Dinsdale}} and {{rws|Teesside Airport}}
*Hartlepool:
**{{rws|Hartlepool}} and {{rws|Seaton Carew}}
*Stockton-on-Tees:
**{{rws|Stockton|County Durham}}, {{rws|Billingham}}, {{rws|Allens West}}, {{rws|Eaglescliffe}}, {{rws|Thornaby}} and {{rws|Yarm}}
*Middlesbrough:
**{{rws|Gypsy Lane}}, {{rws|James Cook}}, {{rws|Ormesby||Marton}}, {{rws|Middlesbrough}} and {{rws|Nunthorpe}}
*Redcar and Cleveland:
**{{rws|Redcar Central}} and {{rws|Redcar East}}, {{rws|South Bank|England}}, {{rws|Longbeck}}, {{rws|Marske}} and {{rws|Saltburn}}.

'''Lines'''
[[File:Tyne and Wear and Tees Rail Map.svg|thumb|Commuter rail services linked with lInes from Tees Valley to [[Durham, England|Durham]] and [[Tyne and Wear]]]]
* {{rws|Darlington}} is connected to the [[East Coast Main Line]] (ECML)  and provides fast connections to London and Edinburgh. From May 2018, the UK Government announced that the line was to be re-nationalised for the second time since privatisation in 1997.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44142258|title=State takeover for failed rail franchise|date=16 May 2018|work=BBC News|access-date=2 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180521153215/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44142258|archive-date=21 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> 
[[File:Tees Valley Metro Route.png|thumb|200px|previously proposed [[Tees Valley Metro]] route showing most current stations in the region along with proposed stations not built at the present time]]
* [[Tees Valley line]], serves most of the area and links to Darlington and [[Teesside Airport railway station|Teesside Airport station]], with sections being the former [[Stockton & Darlington Railway]]. 
* [[Durham Coast Line]], connects {{rws|Hartlepool}}, {{rws|Stockton|County Durham}}, {{rws|Thornaby}} and {{rws|Middlesbrough}} with the main line.
* [[Northallerton–Eaglescliffe Line]], connects {{rws|Eaglescliffe}} and {{rws|Yarm}} with Durham Coast Line.
*[[Esk Valley line]]: serves most Middlesbrough stations
'''Services'''
[[File:Darlington Station (33463118815).jpg|thumb|200px|[[Darlington railway station]]]]
[[York]]-based [[London North Eastern Railway|LNER]] serves the full length of the ECML and operates [[Darlington railway station]]. There is also a daily LNER service from Middlesbrough to [[London King's Cross railway station|London King's Cross]], while [[Grand Central (train operating company)|Grand Central]] has linked Teesside with London since December 2007 with a non-stop from York onwards. It does not have electric trains, and uses the Northallerton–Eaglescliffe Line and Durham Coast Line. [[CrossCountry]] operate regular services from Darlington to [[Newcastle-Upon-Tyne]], [[Scotland]], [[Leeds]], [[Birmingham]] and southwest England.

Local-service routes in the Tees Valley are provided by [[Northern Trains]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/about-us|title=About Us|website=www.northernrailway.co.uk|accessdate=4 September 2023}}</ref> [[TransPennine Express]] has inter-regional services from Saltburn to Manchester Airport, via [[Leeds]].

===Air===
[[Teesside International Airport]] serves the area and has a regular service from [[Amsterdam]], [[Schiphol airport]].<ref>{{cite web|year=2011|title=Whitby and North York Moors National Park Maps & Travel {{pipe}} Visit Whitby|url=http://www.visitwhitby.com/maps-travel|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110804043725/http://www.visitwhitby.com/maps-travel|archive-date=4 August 2011|access-date=13 August 2011}}</ref>

==Media==
===Television===
The area is served by [[BBC North East and Cumbria]] and [[ITV Tyne Tees]], the local based-television station [[Local TV Teesside]] also broadcast to the area. Television signals are received from either the [[Pontop Pike transmitting station|Pontop Pike]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Pontop_Pike|title=Full Freeview on the Pontop Pike (County Durham, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=15 May 2024}}</ref> or [[Bilsdale transmitting station|Bilsdale]] TV transmitters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Bilsdale|title=Bilsdale (North Yorkshire, England) Full Freeview transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=15 May 2024}}</ref>

===Radio===
Radio stations for the area are:
;[[BBC Local Radio]]
*[[BBC Radio Tees]]
;[[Independent Radio]]
*[[Capital North East]]
*[[Greatest Hits Radio Teesside]] 
*[[Heart North East]]
*[[Hits Radio Teesside]]
*[[Nation Radio North East]]
*[[Smooth North East]]
;[[Community Radio]]
*[[Zetland FM]] (serving [[Redcar and Cleveland]])
*CVFM Radio (for [[Middlesbrough]])  <ref>{{Cite web |title=CVFM Radio |url=https://www.cvfm.org.uk/ |access-date=15 May 2024 |archive-date=18 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240318094235/http://www.cvfm.org.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Alpha Radio Darlington]]
* [[Radio Hartlepool]]

===Newspapers===
Tees Valley is served by these local newspapers:
*[[Darlington & Stockton Times]]
*Evening Gazette ([[TeessideLive]] online)
*[[Hartlepool Mail]]
*[[The Northern Echo]]

==Sport==
===Football===
====Association====
{{see also|Football in Yorkshire}}
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Division 
!Club
!Ground
!Location
|-
|{{English football updater|Middboro}}||[[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]||[[Riverside Stadium]]|| [[Middlesbrough]], North Yorkshire
|-
|{{English football updater|HartlepU}}||[[Hartlepool United F.C.|Hartlepool United]]||[[Victoria Park (Hartlepool)|Victoria Park]]||[[Hartlepool]], County Durham
|-
|{{English football updater|Darlingt}}||[[Darlington F.C.|Darlington]]||[[Blackwell Meadows]]||[[Darlington]], County Durham
|-
|{{English football updater|MarskeUn}}
|[[Marske United F.C.|Marske United]]
|Mount Pleasant
|[[Marske-by-the-Sea|Marske]], North Yorkshire
|- 
|{{English football updater|StocktoT}}||[[Stockton Town F.C.|Stockton Town]]||Bishopton Road West||[[Stockton, County Durham]]
|-
| {{English football updater|GuisborT}}||[[Guisborough Town F.C.|Guisborough Town]]||King George V Ground||[[Guisborough]], North Yorkshire
|-
|{{English football updater|RedcarAt}}||[[Redcar Athletic F.C.|Redcar Athletic]]||Green Lane||[[Redcar]], North Yorkshire
|-
|{{English football updater|Thornaby}}||[[Thornaby F.C.|Thornaby]]||Teesdale Park||[[Thornaby]], North Yorkshire
|-
| {{English football updater|BillingS}}||[[Billingham Synthonia F.C.|Billingham Synthonia]]||Stokesley Sports Complex||[[Stokesley]], North Yorkshire{{efn|name=a|Ground sharing until new ground found or built in or nearer their place of origin}}
|-
| {{English football updater|BoroRang}}||[[Boro Rangers F.C.|Boro Rangers]]||Stokesley Sports Complex||[[Stokesley]], North Yorkshire{{efn|name=a}}
|-
|{{English football updater|BillingT}}||[[Billingham Town F.C.|Billingham Town]]||Bedford Terrace||[[Billingham]], County Durham
|-
|{{English football updater|RedcarTo}}||[[Redcar Town F.C.|Redcar Town]]
|Mo Mowlam Memorial Park
|[[Redcar]], North Yorkshire
|-
|{{English football updater|DarlinRA}}||[[Darlington Railway Athletic F.C.|Darlington Railway Athletic]]|| Brinkburn Road||Darlington, County Durham
|-
|{{English football updater|Norto&SA}}||[[Norton and Stockton Ancients F.C.|Norton and Stockton Ancients]]|| Norton Sports Complex||Norton, County Durham
|}
[[Wearside League]] also host:
*FC Hartlepool, Hartlepool, County Durham
*Wynyard Village, Wynyard (Stockton), County Durham

Under the Northern League there is also the [[North Riding Football League]], founded in 2017 by a merger of [[Teesside Football League]] and the Eskvale & Cleveland League

In the [[Women's football in England#Pyramid|women's football pyramid]], [[Middlesbrough F.C. Women|Middlesbrough]] and the [[Norton and Stockton Ancients F.C.|Norton and Stockton Ancients]] play in the fourth tier (Division One North).

====Rugby Union====
As of the 2022-2 season, there are fourteen [[Rugby Union Football]] Clubs in the region, Darlington Mowden Park is in the highest division compared to the rest of the clubs:
{|class="wikitable"
!Division
!Club
!Stadium
!Location
|-
|[[National League 1]]||[[Darlington Mowden Park R.F.C.]]	||[[Northern Echo Arena]]||[[Darlington]], County Durham
|-
|[[National League 2 North]]||[[Billingham RUFC]]||Greenwood Road||[[Billingham]], County Durham
|-
| Regional 2 North
|[[Middlesbrough RUFC]]
|[[Acklam Park]]
|[[Acklam, Middlesbrough]], North Yorkshire
|-
|rowspan="7" |[[Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland]]||[[Stockton RFC]]
|[[The Grangefield Ground|Grangefield Ground]]
|[[Stockton-on-Tees]], County Durham
|-
|Acklam R.U.F.C.
|Talbot Park
|[[Acklam, Middlesbrough]], North Yorkshire
|-
|[[Darlington RFC]]
|Blackwell Meadows
|[[Darlington]], County Durham
|-
|Hartlepool
|Mayfield Park
|[[Hartlepool]], County Durham
|-
|[[Hartlepool Rovers]]
|The New Friarage
|[[Hartlepool]], County Durham
|-
|Guisborough
|Belmangate
|[[Guisborough]], North Yorkshire
|-
|[[West Hartlepool R.F.C.]]
|Brinkburn
|[[Hartlepool]], County Durham
|-
|[[Counties 2 Durham & Northumberland]]
||[[Redcar RUFC]]||Mackinlay Park||[[Redcar]], North Yorkshire
|-
| rowspan="4" |[[Counties 3 Durham & Northumberland]]
|[[Darlington Mowden Park R.F.C.|DMP Elizabethans]]
|[[Northern Echo Arena]]
|[[Darlington]], County Durham
|-
|Seaton Carew
|Hornby Park
|[[Seaton Carew]], County Durham
|-
|West Hartlepool T.D.S.O.B.||John Howard Park||[[Hartlepool]], County Durham
|-
|Yarm||Wass Way||[[Eaglescliffe]], County Durham
|}

===Cricket===
[[ECB Premier Leagues|ECB PL]]'s [[North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League]]:
{|
|'''County Durham'''
*Darlington:
**Darlington Cricket Club
**Darlington Railway Athletic Cricket Club
**Middleton St George 
**Haughton
*Hartlepool:
**Hartlepool 
**Seaton Carew
**Hartlepool Power Station
*Stockton (North Tees)
**Cowpen
**Norton
**Billingham Synthonia
**[[Stockton Cricket Club|Stockton]]
|'''North Yorkshire'''
*Stockton (South Tees):
**Durham Palatinates
**Thornaby
**Maltby
**Yarm
*Middlesbrough:
**[[Middlesbrough Cricket Club|Middlesbrough]]
**Smiths Dock
**Normanby Hall
**Marton
**Guisborough
*Redcar & Cleveland
**Redcar
**Marske
**Saltburn
|}

===Basketball===
*[[Tees Valley Mohawks]]
*[[Teesside Lions]]

==See also==
*[[Tees Valley Wildlife Trust]]
*[[Tees Valley Youth Orchestra]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Durham}}
{{North Yorkshire}}
{{Yorkshire}}
{{NE England}}
{{City regions of the United Kingdom}}
{{Subdivisions of England}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:County Durham|County Durham]]
[[Category:Middlesbrough]]
[[Category:North Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Stockton-on-Tees]]
[[Category:Redcar and Cleveland]]
[[Category:Darlington]]
[[Category:Hartlepool]]
[[Category:Places in the Tees Valley|Places in the Tees Valley]]
[[Category:Local enterprise partnerships]]