WORK on the first phase of a North-East's business developments is under way.

The first two buildings on the Morton Palms Business Park site, on the edge of Darlington, are being constructed and will eventually house up to 700 staff.

Architects Red Box Design Group, who are working with developers City and Northern on the striking designs, released an artist's impression of the completed buildings yesterday.

The business park is crucial to plans to market Darlington as the gateway to the Tees Valley.

It is hoped that it will attract up to £17m worth of private investment and create more than 1,000 jobs.

The Northern Echo is backing calls for a Government department to be based at Morton Palms.

More than 70,000sq ft of office space will be available in time for proposals which could see sections of Whitehall devolved out of London.