'Visionary' plans for two towns

The development could include a new bridge over the Tees

A plan to link two Teesside towns is being unveiled on Tuesday.

The Stockton-Middlesbrough Initiative would create a "city scale environment" and redevelop the corridor between them alongside the River Tees.

Plans are expected to include a new bridge over and a crossing under the Tees, a second barrage, and a new station alongside the river.

It is hoped this would lead to economic regeneration, and create shopping and cultural opportunities.

'National centre'

David Budd, Middlesbrough Council's executive member for regeneration, said: "This fits with the ambitions that Middlesbrough and Stockton have already shown within their boundaries.

"This is really joining the two towns together. We've got a enormous amount of unused space between Middlesbrough and Stockton, plus the river itself.

"Thinking about what we can do with water and water sports there's no reason why we shouldn't become a national centre.

"We should think of ourselves as a big city region and think of the developments in that light.

"We already convinced people outside of the area, now we've got to convince ourselves as well."