Planning Departments
Four unitary authorities - each their own planning authority
Four separate unitary authorities: The former Cleveland County Council was abolished in 1996. The Teesside area is now covered by four independent unitary authorities - Middlesbrough Council, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, and Hartlepool Borough Council. The Tees Valley Combined Authority is a strategic body only - it is not a planning authority. Contact the relevant council directly for all planning enquiries.
Teesworks and Teesside Freeport: The Teesworks site (former SSI steelworks, Redcar) is one of England's largest brownfield regeneration projects. Development within the Freeport area may be subject to specific Local Development Order consents - check with Redcar & Cleveland BC and the Teesworks authority for the latest position.
Teesworks and Teesside Freeport: The Teesworks site (former SSI steelworks, Redcar) is one of England's largest brownfield regeneration projects. Development within the Freeport area may be subject to specific Local Development Order consents - check with Redcar & Cleveland BC and the Teesworks authority for the latest position.
Middlesbrough Council
Middlesbrough - town centre, Marton, Acklam, Nunthorpe, Coulby Newham
01642 245 432middlesbrough.gov.uk/planning
Middlesbrough town centre and riverfront are undergoing substantial regeneration. The Boho Zone digital/creative quarter and South Tees Development Corporation site are significant investment areas. Much of Middlesbrough sits on reclaimed land and former industrial ground - ground investigation is standard for most development sites.
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
Stockton, Billingham, Thornaby, Ingleby Barwick, Yarm, Eaglescliffe
01642 393 939stockton.gov.uk/planning
Stockton High Street is one of England's widest and has been subject to major public realm improvements. The ICI/INEOS Wilton chemical complex in Billingham is a major industrial zone with associated pipeline safeguarding zones - check with the council and Health & Safety Executive for development near the complex. Yarm Conservation Area covers the historic loop of the Tees.
Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council
Redcar, Guisborough, Loftus, Saltburn-by-the-Sea, Skelton, Brotton
01642 774 774redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/planning
The former SSI Redcar steelworks site (Teesworks) is one of the UK's largest brownfield regeneration projects - wholly within Redcar & Cleveland. The North York Moors National Park border runs close to Guisborough - check whether your site falls within the NPA boundary. The Cleveland Hills and coast between Saltburn and Skinningrove are highly scenic and subject to AONB protections.
Hartlepool Borough Council
Hartlepool, Seaton Carew, Greatham, Hart
01429 266 522hartlepool.gov.uk/planning
Hartlepool's Historic Quay and Victorian town are Conservation Areas. The Hartlepool Marina regeneration area has transformed the waterfront. Seaton Carew is a coastal settlement with active sea flooding risk - consult the Environment Agency and Hartlepool BC for coastal development proposals. The Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station is a safeguarded installation - check the EA and Office for Nuclear Regulation for development near the site.
Building Control
BCO contacts for Building Regulations approval across Teesside
LABC - Find Your Teesside Building Control Team
All four councils - postcode search
Each of the four unitary authorities operates its own building control team. You may also use a Registered Building Control Approver (RBCA) anywhere in Teesside.
Heritage & Conservation
Yarm Conservation Area, Hartlepool Historic Quay, Tees transporter bridge
Historic England - North East
Covers all of the North East including Teesside
0191 269 1200northeast@historicengland.org.uk
Newcastle office. The Teesside Transporter Bridge (1911) is a Grade II* listed structure and one of the area's most iconic industrial heritage assets. The Stockton and Darlington Railway, the world's first steam-powered public railway (1825), passed through Stockton - several key heritage assets along the original route are scheduled monuments. The medieval priory at Guisborough is a significant heritage site in Redcar & Cleveland.
Local HERs - Teesside Councils
Archaeological records held by each unitary authority
Contact the planning department of the relevant unitary authority for access to local Historic Environment Records. The Heritage Gateway provides access to national and local heritage records. Industrial archaeology is particularly significant across Teesside given the area's role as the birthplace of the modern iron and steel industry.
Environment & Flood Risk
Tidal Tees, coastal flood risk, former steelworks contamination
Environment Agency - North East
Tidal and fluvial flood risk, water quality, contaminated land
03708 506 506Check flood risk - GOV.UK
Flood Incident Line: 0345 988 1188 (24hr). The River Tees is tidal as far upstream as the Tees Barrage - most riverside development requires a Flood Risk Assessment. Ground contamination from over a century of steelmaking, chemical manufacture, and heavy industry is widespread across Teesside, particularly in Middlesbrough, Billingham, and the Redcar coastal strip. A Phase 1 desk study and Phase 2 ground investigation are standard requirements for most brownfield development. Coastal erosion affects the Tees Bay - check the Shoreline Management Plan for development near the coast at Seaton Carew and Redcar.
Utilities & Infrastructure
Northumbrian Water, Northern Gas Networks, Northern Powergrid, Teesport
Northumbrian Water
Water supply and sewerage - all four Teesside authorities
0345 717 1100nwl.co.uk/developers
Build-over agreements required within 3 metres of a public sewer. Check sewer records at the earliest design stage - the dense industrial legacy means significant sewer infrastructure in many development areas.
Northern Powergrid
Electricity distribution - all four Teesside authorities
0800 011 3332northernpowergrid.com/connections
Power cuts: 105. The Teesside area has significant grid infrastructure associated with the former steelworks, chemical plants, and the Teesworks regeneration site. Major high-voltage cables may not always be apparent from standard searches - always use LSBUD or a multi-utility search before excavating on former industrial land.
Northern Gas Networks (NGN)
Gas distribution - all four Teesside authorities
0800 040 7766northerngasnetworks.co.uk
Gas emergency: 0800 111 999. The Teesside area has significant high-pressure gas transmission pipelines associated with the petrochemical industry - development near these pipelines requires HSE consultation. Check LSBUD for all pipeline locations before any excavation work. The Teesside area is also a focus for green hydrogen infrastructure investment - be aware of evolving pipeline safeguarding zones.
National Highways
A19, A66, A689 - strategic roads serving Teesside
0300 123 5000nationalhighways.co.uk
The A19 dualling scheme and A66 Trans-Pennine upgrade are significant road infrastructure projects affecting Teesside - check National Highways for current safeguarding zones before site assessments.
Trade Bodies & Professional Registers
Find vetted tradespeople and professionals in Teesside
Federation of Master Builders
Gas Safe Register
0800 408 5500gassaferegister.co.uk
NICEIC - Find a Registered Electrician
MCS - Find a Renewable Energy Installer
RICS - Find a Surveyor
Other Useful Contacts
Health & safety, Office for Nuclear Regulation and consumer protection
Health & Safety Executive (HSE)
0300 003 1747hse.gov.uk
Notify HSE of notifiable construction projects under CDM Regulations at least 2 weeks before work begins. Development near the Billingham chemical complex or Hartlepool nuclear site requires formal HSE consultation - check PADHI (Planning Advice for Developments near Hazardous Installations) guidelines.
Accuracy notice: Contact details and websites change. We update this directory periodically but always verify contacts directly. Last verified August 2026.