Tees Valley Combined Authority

The Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) is the combined authority for the Tees Valley strategic authority area in North East England. It consists of the following five unitary authorities: Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees. It is a strategic authority with powers over transport, economic development and regeneration including the flagship Teesside Freeport.

The strategic authority governs a population of approximately 700,000 people. Its area is divided between the ceremonial counties of North Yorkshire and County Durham.

The strategic authority was established on 1 April 2016, after Local Government Minister James Wharton MP signed the necessary Order. It was first proposed that a combined authority be established by statutory instrument under the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009. It was announced in October 2015 that voters in the region covered by the Authority would directly elect a Mayor in 2017.