The Middlesbrough Development Corporation (MDC) is a proposed mayoral development corporation to fund and manage regeneration in Middlesbrough town centre and Middlehaven, England. 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). Initially, the corporation was planned to be in operation by the end of 2022. 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. 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) Cleveland Police (commissioner Steve Turner, a chief constable) Teesside University (vice chair) and a member of a local non-profit youth organisation At a council meeting on 24 February 2023, Middlesbrough Council voted 16 to 12 against the planned development corporation. All 16 Labour party councilors opposed the plans, and many councilors (including mayor Andy Preston) did not attend. 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. The proposed council assets for transfer to the MDC include: 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 Jurys Inn) earmarked for redevelopment. On 28 February 2023, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities confirmed the development corporation would go ahead despite not receiving backing from Middlesbrough Council. Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald called it a “scandalous denial of democracy". However, the announcement came after 25 of the 46 councilors signed an open letter of support for the MDC sent to the secretary of state Michael Gove. See also South Tees Development Corporation Tees Valley Regeneration Notes References Companies based in Middlesbrough Redcar and Cleveland Cleveland, England Organisations based in North Yorkshire Development Corporations of