NEW facilities for technology companies in north Durham have won a regional award.

Derwentside District Council's £1.6m E-Business Centre, on Consett Business Park, has won a bronze award in the Community Benefit Category of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors' North-East Renaissance Awards.

The building was recognised for its positive impact by providing new businesses with the best start.

Chairman of judges Kevin Drysdale said: "The judges were extremely impressed with the design standards and layout of the building.

"This building is in a different league compared with other incubator projects. There is no doubt that the E-Business Centre is going to be an important building within the overall process of rejuvenating the community spirit of the area.

"It provides a range of support services and will create a forum for new business to interrelate and share valuable experiences."

The council has approached the building's architects, Browne Smith Baker, to begin work on two more buildings on Consett Business Park. These will be a 10,000sq ft manufacturing unit and a 10,000sq ft office development.

The three self-contained office units are for larger, more established businesses. The manufacturing unit will supplement existing facilities on the nearby Number One Industrial Estate.

Both schemes have been submitted for planning approval and work is expected to start in September.

Senior development officer Ross Bullerwell, of Derwentside District Council said: "The first e-business centre we worked on with Browne Smith Baker went down very well."