DEVELOPERS at the £500m scheme to regenerate the Middlehaven area of Teesside have joined forces with BT to give businesses on the site the latest in high-tech communications.

Offices in the first phase of the development will be fitted with state-of-the-art business support services, thanks to the deal with the communications group.

BT's system, called 'eLocation', will be installed in the flagship Manhattan Gate development due for completion in July next year.

If successful it will be rolled out in the rest of the development.

Construction work has recently begun on the first phase of the regeneration scheme.

The project is being led by Tees Valley Regeneration - the urban regeneration company - supported by the five Tees Valley local authorities, the national regeneration agency English Partnerships and One Northeast, the regional redevelopment agency.

The deal with BT will see the business park equipped with a high speed optical fibre communications infrastructure, catering for business applications including voice telephony, internet, data and video services.

As part of the site BT will help promote the site to blue-chip companies at home and overseas as an ideal UK base.

Within the 250 acres of Middlehaven will be more than 800,000 square feet of commercial office development along with up to 2,400 new homes and leisure proposals that include hotels, bars, and restaurant.

Middlesbrough mayor Ray Mallon said: "The scale of our ambition sends an important message out to entrepreneurs and developers that Middlesbrough is open for business. That ambition is now reflected in the fact that through this collaboration with BT, Middlehaven now offers truly state of the art telecommunications."