DEVELOPERS hoping to turn a £500m vision for Teesside into reality had their last chance to win the deal yesterday.

As part of the Middlehaven project,Wasteland next to Middlesbrough FC's Riverside stadium will see about 2,400 homes, 800,000sq ft of offices and leisure facilities built.

More than 80 developers expressed an interest in taking on the scheme and were reduced to a shortlist of six: Urban Splash, Urban Catalyst working with Carillion, Placemakers, KUD, Taylor Woodrow, and LNER Estates.

Delegations from the six companies were in Stockton yesterday, to give their final presentations to lead agency Tees Valley Regeneration (TVR).

TVR chief executive Joe Docherty is expected to announce the winner within days.

The Northern Echo exclusively revealed last week that one of them is believed to be looking at a partnership development deal with Middle East group Emaar.

The multi-billion pound company is credited with transforming the fortunes of Dubai, with developments such as a hotel in the shape of an Arabian dhow sail, and the world's tallest tower.

Emaar's Mohamed Ali Alabbar, came to Teesside on a fact-finding mission last September.

The visit was brought about by Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon and businessman Trevor Arnold, who runs Home International in Thornaby.

The architectural blueprint for Middlehaven includes a dice-shaped casino, an office block shaped like Marge Simpson's hairdo, and a hotel that resembles the game Kerplunk.

Mr Docherty was unavailable for comment last night.