CITY development company 1NG is leading a bid to win a slice of the Government’s £1.4bn Regional Growth Fund (RGF) to help construct the biggest purpose-built conferencing centre in the North.

The proposed International Conference and Exhibition Centre (ICEC) would accommodate up to 4,000 delegates and form the centrepiece in the next phase of the £200m private-sector regeneration of Gateshead Quays.

1NG, Newcastle- Gateshead’s city development company, in collaboration with Gateshead Council, hopes to build on the successes of the site, which includes The Sage music centre, the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art and Gateshead Millennium Bridge.

ING claims that building the ICEC could support up to 3,000 private-sector jobs, as well as attract about 215,000 additional delegates and generate at least £19m in to the North-East economy every year.

The first round of bids to the RGF for projects that can create private-sector jobs will close on January 21.

Damon Roberts, chairman of North-East Hotels’ Association and general manager of Thistle Middlesbrough, is among the business leaders who have thrown their weight behind the bid.

Mr Roberts said: “The Hotels’ Association is 100 per cent behind this RGF bid and fully support the development of an ICEC, which will have a positive impact on existing members through attracting new business and leisure visitors.

“It will also be a catalyst for new hotel growth and development in the North-East.”