The Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) is the combined authority for the Tees Valley urban area in North East England consisting of the following five unitary authorities: Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees, covering a population of approximately 700,000 people. The area is divided between the ceremonial counties of North Yorkshire and County Durham. It was proposed that a combined authority be established by statutory instrument under the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009. It is a strategic authority with powers over transport, economic development and regeneration including the flagship Teesside Freeport.
The Combined Authority was established on 1 April 2016, after Local Government Minister James Wharton MP signed the necessary Order. It was announced in October 2015 that voters in the region covered by the Authority would directly elect a Mayor in 2017.