Middlesbrough Development Corporation
{{Short description|Regeneration body in England}}
{{distinguish|text = Middlesbrough Development Company (MDC), a part of Middlesbrough Council}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Middlesbrough Development Corporation (MDC)
| formation = 27 February 2023
| image = Middlesbrough Development Corporation.svg
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| type = Development Corporation
| purpose = Regeneration
| region = Middlesbrough, Teesside
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| leader_title = Chair
| leader_name = Ben Houchen{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgpp228pd9o|title=Mayor to step down from MDC chair roles in June|newspaper=BBC News|date=11 April 2025|access-date=5 June 2025}}
| key_people =
| parent_organization = Tees Valley Combined Authority
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Middlesbrough Development Corporation (MDC) is a publicly-owned mayoral development corporation created to fund, manage, and accelerate regeneration in Middlesbrough town centre and Middlehaven, England.
It was established on 27 February 2023 by statutory instrument 2023/103, and is a part of Tees Valley Combined Authority, with board comprising elected and private-sector members.
History
The establishment was first proposed in August 2022 by the Tees Valley Combined Authority as a publicly owned statutory body with increased powers (including planning, business rate relief, and acquisition of land by compulsory purchase order).{{Cite web|date=3 August 2022 |title=MDC Consultation |url=https://moderngov.middlesbrough.gov.uk/documents/s13405/Report.pdf |access-date=28 February 2023 |website=middlesbrough.gov.uk |publisher=Middlesbrough Council}} Initially, the corporation was planned to be in operation by the end of 2022.{{Cite web |last=Craigie |first=Emily |date= |title=Mayor confirms date for new regeneration zone after council casts doubt |url=https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/ben-houchen-confirms-timeline-new-25065331 |access-date=28 February 2023 |work=TeessideLive}}
The proposals included £10 million of investment from the Tees Valley Combined Authority, as well as £8 million from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to transform the area of Gresham.{{Cite web |title=Mayoral Development Corporation |url=https://moderngov.middlesbrough.gov.uk/documents/s16141/Mayoral%20DC%20Council%20Report%2024%2002%2023.pdf |access-date=28 February 2023 |website=Middlesbrough Council}} Following the consultation, a shadow board for the corporation was established comprising elected and private-sector members from:
- Tees Valley Combined Authority (mayor Ben Houchen, a chief executive)
- Middlesbrough Council (mayor Andy Preston, deputy mayor, a chief executive){{refn|group=note|name=andypreston_personal|Initially both Preston and the deputy mayor were to serve on the board in a personal capacity, however this was since renegotiated.{{Cite web|title=Andy Preston on Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/Tees_Issues/status/1629803790521040901}}}}
- Cleveland Police (commissioner Steve Turner, a chief constable)
- Teesside University (vice chair)
- and a member of a local non-profit youth organisation
At a meeting on 24 February 2023, Middlesbrough Council voted 16 to 12 in a non-binding vote against the planned development corporation. All 16 Labour party councillors opposed the plans, and many councillors (including mayor Andy Preston) did not attend.{{Cite web |last=Mazza |first=Julia |date= |title=Middlesbrough council rejects a Mayoral Development Corporation |url=https://northeastbylines.co.uk/middlesbrough-council-rejects-a-mayoral-development-corporation/ |access-date=28 February 2023 |work=North East Bylines}} The major concerns voiced were around a loss of planning powers for the council, the transfer of council assets to the new entity, and a 'lack of expertise' on the board.{{Cite web |author= |date= |title=Tories blast Labour vote against mayoral development corporation |url=https://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/news/23346541.labour-votes-mayoral-development-corporation-middlesbrough/ |access-date=28 February 2023 |work=Darlington and Stockton Times}} The proposed council assets for transfer to the MDC include:{{Cite web |last=Craigie |first=Emily |date= |title=Labour votes against plans for body that would bring £18m investment |url=https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/labour-votes-against-development-corporation-26328628 |access-date=28 February 2023 |work=TeessideLive}}
- Middlehaven – including brownfield sites, Middlesbrough Dock, and surrounding land of around 40 acres
- Middlesbrough bus station
- The Crown (former pub) and neighbouring units (Linthorpe Road)
- Broadcasting House Enterprise Centre and freehold of Sainsbury's site (Wilson Street)
- Units under A66 along Wilson Street
- and a number of sites and council owned car parks (Station Street, Amber Street, Buxton Street, and Leonardo Hotel) earmarked for redevelopment.
On 27 February 2023, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities confirmed the development corporation would go ahead despite not receiving backing from Middlesbrough Council. The corporation was established by statutory instrument 2023/103.{{cite web |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/103/pdfs/uksi_20230103_en.pdf |title=The Middlesbrough Development Corporation (Establishment) Order 2023 - uksi_20230103_en.pdf |orig-date=4 March 2023 |access-date=4 March 2023 }} Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald called it a “scandalous denial of democracy". However, the legislation came after 25 of the 46 councillors (54%) signed an open letter of support for the MDC sent to the secretary of state Michael Gove.{{Cite web |last=Craigie |first=Emily |date= |title=Development corporation gains government backing despite objections |url=https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/controversial-development-corporation-go-ahead-26355057 |access-date=28 February 2023 |work=TeessideLive}}
See also
Notes
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