THE first phase in a retail park opens this week, bringing up to 700 much-needed jobs to Durham.

A 102,000sq ft B&Q store opens in the Dragonville area of the city this Thursday, creating 200 jobs. It is the anchor development in a £46m retail park, covering 190,000sq ft.

Other stores due to open soon include Argos, white goods retailer Currys, PC World and Storey's Carpets. A further three units are under offer, leaving just three vacant lots available. When it is complete, the park will employ between 500 and 700 people.

The park, part of the Dragonville Industrial Estate, is a joint venture between Dragonville Developments and F&C Property Asset Management. It the first of three retail developments next door to each other. The others are a non-food park by Alexage Limited, and a fast-food restaurant and crche, in a joint bid by Sunniside Properties and Durham-based factory Veriplast International, formerly known as Mono Containers.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott granted planning permission for all three developments in January 2004, after a public inquiry.

But all retailers on the site are restricted to selling bulky goods, to ensure traders in Durham city centre will not be adversely affected.