MULTI-MILLION pound proposals for the regeneration of a former coalfield community are to go on show next week.

A "network village" development of homes and businesses has been earmarked for the site of the former Murton colliery, in east Durham.

Details of the £40m development, which would include 180 houses and could support up to 300 jobs, will be revealed during a three-week exhibition at the Glebe Centre, in Murton, which opens on Monday.

Developers expect to formally submit a planning application for the site, near the Dalton Park shopping complex, before the end of the year, with work likely to start as early as 2009.

If given the go-ahead, the site would be one of the first in the country to be developed under the network village scheme - a Government initiative to create sustainable communities in the former coalfields by developing homes, community facilities, business units and shops in the same area.

The Murton proposal has been developed by Easington District Council, English Partnerships and its joint venture company Network Space.

It includes houses, a business centre and work units, all of which will be designed to be as eco-friendly as possible, with built-in links to other parts of Murton.

Councillor Rob Crute, Easington District Council's executive member for regeneration, said: "The redevelopment of the former colliery site is key to the continuing regeneration of Murton and the district as a whole.

"The proposed network village will breathe new life into the village, not only creating new homes and business opportunities, but also fostering a stronger sense of community."

Representatives from Network Space will be at the Glebe Centre on Monday and Tuesday, from 4pm to 7pm.

Simon Peters, regional director for Network Space, said: "We aim to work closely with the local community to deliver the most sustainable and vibrant scheme possible and this event will be the first step.

"I would therefore urge people to come along and view the plans and take the opportunity to have a say on what could be a major development for the village."