Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has welcomed the government’s announcement of a £20 million grant for Billingham from the Levelling Up Fund Round 3. This funding, aimed at job creation and redevelopment, is a significant boost for the town, building upon a previous £6 million allocation from Stockton Council.

Mayor Houchen emphasised the importance of this investment for Billingham’s town centre and infrastructure. He noted, “Billingham deserves more jobs, more investment and redevelopment of the town centre, so it’s fantastic to see this latest cash from Government build on the transformation of Billingham Station and the £6m we allocated to Stockton Council specifically for the town in back in summer last year.”

The Mayor stressed the urgency for Stockton Council to commence development projects, highlighting the need for timely and efficient use of the funds: “With this new funding, it’s now crucial that Stockton Council get spades in the ground and get on with the job of delivering the improvements that local people have long been waiting for.”

The investment is part of the government’s larger initiative to balance regional economic disparities across the UK. Mayor Houchen’s comments reflect a keen focus on accountability and expedience in applying these funds for Billingham’s growth and development. “There are no excuses for any delay in getting this cash to Billingham,” he added, indicating a strong expectation for rapid progress in the town’s revitalisation efforts.