Teesside Freeport

[5] Politicians and the media have criticised Teesworks for possible pollution of the Tees in the context of an unexplained shellfish die-off near Teesside and for a perceived lack of transparency in the transfer of assets.

In the same month thousands of dead crabs and lobsters were washed up on the Tees estuary and beaches along the North-East coast of England.

The corporate structure behind the freeport includes multiple subsidiary companies of which several have local business owners Chris Musgrave and Martin Corney as directors.

MPs have alleged that significant assets have been transferred to these directors without a formal tendering process as is usual for public-sector development projects in the UK.

[8] Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald, citing a Private Eye article in Parliament, said that the only economic growth being delivered at Teesworks "is into the accounts of Ben Houchen's pals, Messrs Musgrave and Corney".