The partnership, Tees Valley Living, appointed DTW after a three-way pitch involving two other Teeside agencies. The campaign will be headed by DTW director Doug Allan who will report to Tees Valley Living executive director Jim Johnsone.
‘In the first instance, we are putting together a bid to government that will hope to see extra ring-fenced cash set aside for the purpose of addressing the housing needs of Teeside,’ said Allan. ‘But first we’ve got to convince government that there is something special about the housing problems in Teeside.’
The campaign will aim to make a case for housing renewal backed by substantial funding for ambitious, long-term plans for restructuring the housing market through regeneration.
Following on from initial lobbying efforts, Allan said a media relations strategy at national and local level will be launched aimed at housing associations, house builders and local residents.
Around 57,000 homes are believed to be in decline and the campaign will aim to encourage the building of new homes and tackle the surplus of unpopular housing.
The number of households is expected to go up by eight per cent in the next ten years, according to a Tees Valley Joint Strategy Unit report.
