listen," he said.

However, the Minister for the Northern Powerhouse and Stockton South MP, James Wharton, paid tribute to Lord Heseltine, whom he described as "a big name" with a high level of "clout and influence".

'Lord Heseltine's vision'

Ian Reeve - BBC Look North Business Correspondent

Image copyright Getty Images

If the veteran politician's 90-page document of aspirations comes to fruition the area will be a veritable utopia.

His vision foresees things as diverse as a new Tees crossing and electrification of the Northallerton to Teesport rail link.

He insists money is available to kickstart projects but the hope is the private sector will follow on and invest. Build a new road, for instance, and they will come, is his reasoning.

It is surely the regeneration of the steelworks site that people will use togauge whether Lord Heseltine's project is a success and, at the moment, progress looks stymied.

It's believed a consortium of Thai banks is laying claim to the site, with the liquidator unprepared, or unable, to pay them off.

A previous development corporation on Teesside - set up in the 1980s - had swingeing powers that it would have deployed to take control of the site. The new one does not.

Lord Heseltine's vision - for the important flagship steelworks site at least - could be faltering as its only just been framed.

He said: "That's why I so welcome that he's taken the time not just to put his name on this, but to spend so much time here to really understand the opportunities and also the challenges this area has.

"We need