John Barnes has taken on the role of Chief Executive of the South Tees Development Corporation.

Already the Development Corporation’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr Barnes was appointed Chief Executive with the unanimous approval of the board at a meeting on Tuesday (10 June).

With more than a quarter of a century of experience in development, regeneration and infrastructure projects, Mr Barnes will take on the role as part of moves to separate leadership arrangements for TVCA and the South Tees Development Corporation (STDC).

The appointment comes as part of Tees Valley Combined Authority and South Tees Development Corporation’s response to the Tees Valley Review, detailed to Government in September last year.

It complements ongoing efforts by TVCA to address to the non-statutory Best Value Notice issued by the Government in April this year, the plans of which will be presented to TVCA Cabinet next month.

One of the recommendations of the Tees Valley Review referred to ensuring organisational boundaries between the TVCA and STDC were maintained.

Mr Barnes said: “I’m very pleased to take on the role of Chief Executive with the backing of the board.

“The huge progress being made across the Teesworks site is great to see – and the Development Corporation has played a key role in this alongside our Teesworks Ltd joint venture partners.

“We continue to play an important role in the delivery of key projects and infrastructure across the site, engaging with Government and ensuring we continue to see major projects, like Net Zero Teesside Power, delivered across the site.”

South Tees Development Corporation is responsible for the regeneration of the former Redcar Steelworks – now known as Teesworks.

The 4,500-acre site is being transformed as a centre for green industry, securing billions of pounds of investment and creating thousands of highly skilled jobs.

Teesworks, part of the Teesside Freeport, is leading the UK as a centre for low-carbon energy, with projects including SeAH Wind’s offshore wind monopile manufacturing facility, Steel River Quay and Net Zero Teesside, the UK’s first gas-fired power station with carbon capture capability.