A SPORTS complex and music arena could be built as part of ambitious £1bn regeneration plans.

The first outline of proposals, designed to create hundreds of jobs and change the landscape of industrial Teesside, were unveiled yesterday.

The sports centre and music arena form part of a wish list of 25 "significant features" designed to redevelop both banks of the Tees, between Stockton and Middlesbrough, over a 15-year period.

The Northern Echo exclusively revealed last month how Middlesbrough and Stockton councils are combining to try to emulate the Newcastle-Gateshead initiative, which has successfully transformed swathes of Tyneside wasteland.

It will incorporate current development projects at Middlehaven, in Middlesbrough, and Stockton's North Bank, and centres on high quality developments, including housing, a hotel and conference centre, office and business premises, plus leisure and cultural facilities.

The Stockton-Middlesbrough Initiative was officially launched near the Tees Barrage yesterday by Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon and Stockton Borough Council leader Bob Gibson.

The councils anticipate financing the scheme by using £250m of public funding to attract more than £1bn worth of private sector investment.

Critics have already voiced concerns that the alliance could undermine a Tees Valley initiative that aims to bring jobs and investment to an area that includes Darlington, east Cleveland and Hartlepool.

But Mr Mallon said: "We want everywhere to benefit and there is no reason why our neighbours should be pushed to one side by this at all.

"People think of Teesside as smog and bleakness, which is not true. However, we need to re-brand, we need a new designer label tag for the area. We need 25 significant features to help achieve that."

He said that a sports complex and a music arena, similar to Newcastle's Telewest Arena, could form part of the development.

Mr Gibson said: "By working together we can make an immense contribution to the Tees Valley economy. We have exceptional strengths - the river, two growing universities, development sites of tremendous potential, world-class businesses and, above all, people who want to succeed and prosper."

The councils will appoint consultants in March to draw up the 15-year master plan for the area.