Remaining Tees-based SSI Steelworks land secured for public ownership

Today (March 15), the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority have approved the move to make a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) to secure the remaining 870 acres of land at the former SSI Steelworks.

The approval came as Mayor Ben Houchen, who is also chairman of the South Tees Development Corporation, declared “enough is enough” and vowed to bring the remaining 870 acres of land owned by SSI UK in receivership back into public ownership as soon as possible.

Last month, a deal was signed by the Tees Valley Mayor to acquire over half of the land on the South Tees Development Corporation site from Tata Steel Europe.

At 1,420 acres, it represents an area about the size of Gibraltar.

Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, said: “While we have already secured more than half of all developable land on site, I’m not prepared to wait any longer to acquire the remaining 870 acres held by SSI UK in receivership.

“We have been negotiating in good faith since I was elected, but it’s clear now that the Thai Banks are taking us for a ride.

“Almost 3,000 people lost their livelihoods in 2015 when SSI collapsed, and I owe it to the former steelworkers and their families to secure the rest of the site for the people of Teesside where it belongs.

“I’m not prepared to write blank cheques on behalf of the taxpayer and be held to ransom by three foreign banks. We will commence compulsory purchase proceedings this month, and we’ll pay fair market value and not a penny more.”

Negotiations to secure the remaining 870 acres of land held by SSI UK in receivership have been ongoing since May 2017.