University and council reveal medical school plan

It is hoped a medical school will be established in Teesdale Business Park

Plans to open a new medical school have been revealed by a council and a university, who have promised to work together.

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council agreed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Teesside University in its proposals to create the facility in Teesdale Business Park.

The council will support the university in seeking approval from the government and the General Medical Council to confirm the need for the school in the region.

One key objective raised in the MoU was to "remove barriers which may prevent people from accessing training" and reduce "health inequalities" in the Tees Valley.

A commitment to start the work of locating the proposed medical school and supported infrastructure in Teesdale Business Park was agreed on Thursday evening.

A CGI of the proposed plans was shown at a council meeting on Thursday

The council said the agreement formed part of a scheme called Tees Valley Care and Health Innovation Zone.

There are also aims to redevelop the St Mark’s Basin area by creating a new care and health educational hub.

It comes as work on a new multimillion-pound urban park in Stockton started in April.

Stockton Waterfront is under construction in the town centre

Council leader Bob Cook said the MoU was a "huge step" in creating a site used for "pioneering, modern health provision" in the area.

"Teesside University has an outstanding reputation for healthcare education provision and I am delighted to be working in collaboration to provide significant opportunities for teaching, research and collaboration on this site," he added.

Teesside University's vice-chancellor Prof Paul Croney said: "By working together we maximise our collective impact on reducing health inequalities, driving cutting edge service delivery, developing skills infrastructure and provision that meet the needs of our region."