§ Mr. DevlinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many jobs have been created or safeguarded by the Teesside development corporation. [11872]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordFrom its establishment in 1987 to September 1996, the Teesside development corporation had created 10,650 permanent jobs in new developments. The total number of job opportunities created by the development corporation now exceeds 25,000.
§ Mr. DevlinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the work on(a) the Teesside development corporation and (b) Stockton city challenge. [11873]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe Teesside development corporation was established in 1987 and will be wound up in March 1998. The corporation estimates that during its lifetime it will have achieved:
- the reclamation of 525 ha of derelict land;
- the building or upgrading of 29 km of roads;
- the building of 1,400 homes;
- provision of 470,200 sq m of non-housing floorspace;
- the attraction of £1,090 million of private sector investment;
- the creation of over 11,000 permanent jobs in new developments, and over 26,000 job opportunities.
The development corporation has already made substantial progress towards these targets. Its activities are successfully transforming large areas of dereliction around Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and Stockton into exciting and attractive developments which are providing jobs, homes and leisure opportunities.
646WStockton city challenge partnership currently estimates that during the lifetime of the initiative it will:
- create 3,400 jobs;
- lever in £111 million of private sector investment;
- build or improve 4,928 homes;
- support 291 new business start-ups;
- and provide 81,300 training weeks.
The operation of the city challenge in Stockton has also helped forge closer working relationships between the public and private sectors and the local community.