Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has doubled down on his election pledge to deliver a new hospital for the region as Chancellor Rachel Reeves begins an overhaul of the New Hospitals Programme.

Lord Houchen says he is still "committed" to deliver a brand new North Tees Hospital despite news of an overhaul to the Conservative's programme to build 40 new sites across the country.

Ms Reeves announced the "reset" in a statement to the House of Commons yesterday (July 29), stating the government will be "straight" with the people about what is affordable.

She said: "In October 2020, the government announced that 40 new hospitals would be built by 2030. Since then, only six have started their main construction activity.

"And less than half of the 40 hospitals have even started construction. The National Audit were clear that delivery was wildly off track.

"But since coming into office, it has become clear that the previous government continued to maintain its commitment to 40 hospitals without anywhere close to the funding required to deliver them.

"We need to be straight with the British people about what is deliverable and what is affordable.

"So we will conduct a complete reset of the New Hospitals Programme, with a thorough, realistic and costed timetable for delivery."

Whilst a new Teesside hospital was not included in the plans which were pledged by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2020, Lord Houchen remains determined that a new facility will be delivered.

He said: "I’m committed to delivering a new hospital for Teesside. I've written to the Health Secretary on this and look forward to having positive discussions with him and the new Government in the future. 

"I was elected with a clear pledge to deliver on this for the people of Stockton. North Tees isn't fit for the future and I'm determined we make sure we get a new state-of-the-art hospital so all Teessiders get the better care they deserve."

This comes months after Lord Houchen laid out his vision for a new hospital in the region.

Speaking exclusively to The Northern Echo in May following his election for a third term as mayor, Lord Houchen spoke of an emergency and acute hospital, costing up to £700m.

“We have come full circle,” he said. “The thinking now is you want to deliver services as close to people in their community as possible, so we are almost certainly not designing a superhospital.

“This is subject to agreement with the trust because it is going to be a trust hospital that they own and run, but it is looking like something smaller that’s focusing on emergency and acute requirements – but where are those other services which have historically been based in the hospital going to be located?”

Following his pledge earlier this year, Lord Houchen came under fire by some who pointed out that building a new hospital is out of his remit. 

He has admitted that he has no control over health services but said he previously made good on other pledges, outside his remit, and building a new hospital “doesn’t seem to me to be that difficult”.

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The Department of Health and Social Care earlier in the year said they cannot comment on political proposals, but it was “important to note” that the mayor does not have the relevant powers to build a new hospital.

Infrastructure needs are determined by local health system planners across the 42 Integrated Care Systems in collaboration with NHS England, said a spokesperson.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “The previous government’s commitment to build 40 new hospitals by 2030 is undeliverable and unaffordable. The funding allocated by the previous government runs out in March.

“We must reset the New Hospital Programme to put it on a sustainable footing, following persistent delays and cost overruns.

“We are therefore launching a full review of the programme to provide a thorough, costed and realistic timeline for delivery and to ensure we can replace the crumbling hospital estate in England. This government is determined to be honest with people about what can be delivered, and not let them down again.”

HM Treasury has been contacted for comment.