CAR manufacturer Nissan has sold off part of its North-East plant for the development of a multi-million pound business park.

Barmston Developments, a joint venture between Wilton Developments and Clugston Developments, plans to build offices, industrial units, a hotel and car showrooms on the site in Sunderland, leading to the creation of around 4,000 permanent jobs.

Nissan will use the money from the sale to build its own, £4.5m logistics centre. The deal has been backed by Sunderland City Council and regional development agency One NorthEast.

Plans for the new business park will be submitted in the summer and work on the five-year project could start before the end of the year.