A DURHAM company has created a £3,000,000 environmentally-friendly business park which is already providing 100 new jobs in just over a year.

Bucking the economic trend B&K Developments, operated by husband and wife team Billy and Karon Morgan, have completed the City West Business Park complex, at Meadowfield on the outskirts of the City.

Captains of industry from all over the region attended an opening ceremony to offer their support and backing to the trail blazing venture.

It was in January of last year, in the face of the deepening credit crunch, that B&K began the ambitious project, which is already proving a winning enterprise.

Speaking at the opening Mr Morgan revealed how, in preparation for the construction work, his company had sourced both renewable and recycled materials: "We have also incorporated many carbon reducing features internally such as high frequency low energy light fittings, low energy heating panels with timers which will reduce running costs as a standard feature.’’ He added: "Part of our vision was to reduce our carbon footprint by providing specific facilities which will reduce the need to travel to other locations in order to conduct day to day business.

"To that end we have incorporated a fabulous Italian Restaurant, "Adesso’’ together with a superb modern Conference Centre catering for not only the business needs of all occupants of the Park but also to encourage other organisations to use our facilities.’’ As well as the superbly equipped Conference Centre and the Adesso, which is being run by Steve and April Howe, part owners of the City’s successful Michelangelo restaurant, the complex includes 20 individual state of the art and adaptable office units.

Already providing accommodation for some 100 employees City West has sufficient space for at least double that number.

Unveiling a plaque to mark the opening Gary Lumby the Yorkshire Bank’s Head of Retail Banking describing B&K as one of his major clients adding: "This is a flagship development, which is particularly welcome coming at this difficult economic time.’’ Predicting it would be fully subscribed within the next 12 months he said: "City West Business Park is not only a tremendous achievement for Billy and Karon but for the whole of the North East.’’