A REGENERATION project to turn an industrial plant into a business and leisure park has welcomed its first major occupier.

Social housing provider Livin, formerly Sedgefield Borough Homes, has moved into its new offices at DurhamGate.

The firm, managing 8,500 homes across south west Durham, has transferred its 170-workforce from its old headquarters in Spennymoor to the new development on the town's former Black & Decker site.

The move brings the number of people employed at DurhamGate to almost 400, with Black & Decker's European Research & Development facility remaining on the site and employing 180 and Marstons recently opened the Fox Cub pub at the development, which has created 45 full and part-time jobs.

Colin Steel, Chief Executive of livin, said: "We are delighted to move into our new premises, which demonstrates our clear commitment to providing staff with a high quality working environment.

"It also represents our commitment to local communities by placing us at the heart of one of our major towns."

DurhamGate is being developed in partnership by Carillion Developments, part of Carillion plc, and regional property business, Arlington Real Estate.

Neil McMillan, Director of Carillion Developments, said: "The completion of livin's new headquarters makes another significant step forward in the renaissance of this area."

Allan Cook, Director of Arlington Real Estate, said: "The partnership approach we are taking to the development of DurhamGate has ensured that we have created for livin a new headquarters which exactly meets its requirements and commitment to sustainability."