Teesworks in North East England

Sector and market opportunity

Teesworks has a 25 year vision for creating its industrial zone. The project promoter is looking to work with strategic investors to develop over 1012 hectares, along with 1km of deep-water quay.

Under the direction of the South Tees Development Corporation, Teesworks is focused on clean energy, the circular economy, industrial symbiosis, and advanced manufacturing.

As the largest freeport in the UK, businesses will benefit from:

• tax reliefs
• simplified customs procedures
• streamlined planning processes
• government support for regeneration and innovation

The development will also support the government’s levelling up agenda, with an estimated creation of an extra 20,000 jobs.

Location

The site is strategically well placed for investors and businesses through its close proximity to the North Sea and one of only 2 offshore wind hubs in the UK. With demand for these types of sites and asset classes at an all-time high across the UK, alongside a Combined Authority that is actively seeking inward investment into its region, now is an excellent time to be part of this ambitious Tees Valley development.

The site is spread over 4500 acres making it the largest brownfield development site in the UK. Teesworks is leading the way with its carbon capture technology supporting the government’s carbon-neutral agenda. Based at the site and in partnership with local industry and world class partners, Net Zero Teesside aims to deliver the UK’s first zero-carbon industrial cluster.

Positioned at the mouth of the River Tees, Teesworks offers direct access to the North Sea, unlocking the trade hubs of Europe as well as gas and oil feeds, and Dogger Bank Wind Farm. The site itself encompasses the major port facilities of Teesport, Redcar Bulk Terminal and the soon to be built South Bank Quay.

As the UK’s third largest port by tonnage, Teesport is owned and operated by PD Ports who handle more than 5,000 vessels, around 30 million tonnes of cargo and half a million TEU every year. Further downstream, Redcar Bulk Terminal is one of the best deep-water facilities of its kind in the UK and the deepest on the east coast of England.

Connectivity

The site boasts state of the art connectivity which include three rail freight service connections at strategic locations across the development. For passenger services, the East Coast Main Line makes central London reachable in just over 2 hours, with similar journey times to Manchester and Edinburgh.

Just over 15 minutes away, Teesside International Airport provides a gateway to global destinations for both business and logistics, including daily flights to hub airports, London Heathrow and Amsterdam Schiphol.

Local talent and skills

The region benefits from major universities and training colleges including University of Teesside, along with a highly skilled work force who are leading in the transition to clean energy and carbon capture.

Teesworks Skills Academy has been established to help give the local people of the Tees Valley the best skills possible to take advantage of the new jobs and opportunities that are being created for workers at the Teesworks site.

Operating as a one-stop-shop, the academy will link investors, contractors, end users, employment hubs, skills providers, jobseekers and apprentices to create a world-class workforce for the future. They will be equipped with the expertise businesses at the site will need to grow and succeed.

Research and expertise

With sectors such as hydrogen, carbon capture, utilisation and storage, offshore energy and process engineering, the Tees Valley is one of the UK’s most integrated industrial economies with a supply chain made up of a wide range of firms.

This legacy has nurtured the advanced manufacturing sector and attracted strategically important multi-national companies to the area. This includes some of the most innovative and forward-thinking experts in low carbon technologies, with leading research and technology development organisations, such as the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), Materials Processing Institute and TWI.

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) highlights

The Project Promoter has a keen emphasis on long-term thinking and a more sustainable future. Modern manufacturing combined with renewable activity and a clean energy sector will empower a resilient industrial cluster that is at the centre of a high value, low carbon circular economy.

A highly skilled workforce specialising in manufacturing, engineering and offshore industries, will be complemented by Teesworks Academy. The new academy builds on the back of core skill sets and the region’s history of innovation to enhance skills, showcase career opportunities and create a world-class workforce of the future.

Teesworks is governed by a welcoming local authority in Redcar & Cleveland Council, making it prime space for large scale modern industry, innovative manufacturing and global distribution.

Promoters and partnerships

Teesworks is a joint venture made up of 3 parties:

• Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA)
• JC Musgrave Capital
• Northern Land Management

TVCA is the public sector body responsible for encouraging economic growth, creating jobs and transforming Tees Valley. It is chaired by the Tees Valley mayor, Ben Houchen.

The Teesworks site is also home to Anglo American, BOC, British Steel, Hanson, MGT Teesside, Northumbria Water, PD Ports, Tarmac, and, opening soon, SeAH Wind.

Local and national government support

Teesworks is supported by Tees Valley Local Enterprise Partnership and fits into the UK government’s plans for a carbon neutral future and its levelling up agenda.