A COMPANY behind the regeneration of a North-East wool factory into a business park has joined a campaign that aims to secure thousands of construction jobs by revitalising old buildings.

Marchday plc, the owner of Lingfield Point, the former Paton and Baldwin’s plant in Darlington, has joined the Repairing Britain campaign.

It is claimed the campaign, which focuses on building repair and maintenance, can help secure 250,000 construction jobs at risk during the recession.

At Lingfield Point, Marchday refurbished the buildings on the site, including the multi-award winning Memphis building, now home to the Student Loans Company.

Campaign organisers say that refurbishment and improvement projects create more jobs than new build schemes.

Marchday director John Orchard said: “Repairing Britain encapsulates Marchday’s beliefs about refurbishment and renovation. There is so much domestic and commercial property that is underused or poorly utilised.

With a bit of vision it is possible to create something out of these buildings that is viable and beneficial to a community.

“Marchday is demonstrating this at Lingfield Point.”

Garvis Snook, chief executive of building group Rok, which is leading the campaign, said: “We want to encourage a sense of civic pride in our surroundings. Although the transformations made by Marchday are of commercial property, they are demonstrating that it is possible to renew and reuse effectively and efficiently.”

Businesses are being urged to sign the campaign’s petition at petitions.number10.gov.uk/repairingbritain/