TeesAMP (www.teesamp.co.uk), a £55 million Advanced Manufacturing Park in the Tees Valley (on the site of the former Newport Ironworks), is set to create up to 1,000 jobs.

The 11-hectare site is being constructed to help address the national shortage of accommodation suitable for manufacturers.

Garry Hope, regional managing director of Robertson North East (the principal contractor), said: “The site is really starting to take shape, and seeing the first buildings come together is an important milestone in what is a nationally significant project.

“We are proud to be playing our part in adding to the industrial footprint on Teesside. We are working with local sub-contractors and suppliers wherever possible.”

Phase one of TeesAMP will include 180,000ft² of space, with buildings ranging from 3,000ft² to 30,000ft² available in early 2020.

There will also be new educational resources centred on the history of the ironworks.

Geoff Hogg, of Cleveland Property Investments, said: “Manufacturers based at TeesAMP will have access to a wrap-around package of business support, plus a ready supply of highly skilled workers from local educational institutions such as Middlesbrough College and Teesside University.

“We’re in talks with a number of national and international companies interested in ‘making it in Middlesbrough’.”