MORE than 70 jobs could be created in Hartlepool thanks to a £1.8m industrial development.

MP Peter Mandelson launched the new scheme on Queens Meadow Business Park yesterday, by breaking a bottle of champagne against a column of one of the units under construction.

The factories of 16,000sq ft and 21,200 sq ft are being developed by Priority Sites, the public-private partnership company created by The Royal Bank of Scotland and English Partnerships. The developer is very busy, with new building contracts starting about every four weeks.

Councillor Moss Boddy, Hartlepool Borough Council's cabinet member with responsibility for regeneration and economy, said: "These are high quality business units which will enable Hartlepool to compete worldwide for high profile companies. Queens Meadow is going to play an important part in the growth of the town's economy and we will be doing everything possible to make sure it is developed to its full potential."

Queens Meadow is a new business park strategically located on the A689 only two-and-a-half miles from Hartlepool town centre.

The park has good communication links to the A19 and also to the ports of Tees and Hartlepool, as well as Teesside International Airport.

The 152-acre site is owned by regional development agency One NorthEast, which has already invested more than £4.5m to provide significant site infrastructure and landscaping.

John Williams, deputy chairman of One NorthEast, said: "The development of these high quality units is the first step towards the creation of a thriving business park, generating employment not only for Hartlepool but for the wider Tees Valley area."

Paul Barber, chief executive at Priority Sites, said: "We're delighted to be working with Hartlepool Borough Council and One NorthEast on this exciting new initiative.

"The £1.8m investment by Priority Sites shows our confidence in Hartlepool."

The units will be ready for occupation by Christmas.