WORK on new offices for Durham City Council has started.

The Liberal Democrat-controlled council is building a £2m information centre or one-stop-shop at Lobley Hill Road, Meadowfield.

When it is finished in March, people will be able to access a wide range of services and advice, including benefits and council tax. The 18,000sq ft centre will also house a police station, a victim support suite - only the second of its kind in County Durham - and social services and health facilities.

Council leader Sue Pitts performed the turf cutting with Terry Bramall, chairman of the Durham Villages Regeneration Company, a partnership with developer Keepmoat that will do the construction.

Coun Pitts said: "Today we are recognising a very significant investment in our desire to provide ever improving public services.

"Our residents have told us that they want better solutions to their problems, easier access to our services, and an ability also to access other service providers at the same time."

The council says the centre will be built without additional funding from taxpayers because it will be paid for by the transfer of 5.7 acres of council land to the company. Keepmoat's housing arm, Haslam Homes, will build 100 affordable homes at Brandon Meadowfield, Sherburn and Shadforth.

The scheme is seen as a model for similar developments in the future.

Mr Bramall said: "The project has Keepmoat's unequivocal commitment to see the centre delivered within budget and on time."