THE first plans for a development which promises to create as many as 400 jobs on a new business park have been revealed.

Developer Highbridge Morton Palms hopes to build two office blocks on the business park of Darlington's Yarm Road.

Although no company has yet agreed to take over the offices, Highbridge is confident that between 350 and 400 people will eventually be based there.

The company also hopes 240 construction jobs will be created if the offices are given the go-ahead and building work gets under way.

The Morton Palms business park is a joint venture between Darlington Borough Council and One NorthEast, and the partnership has already spent £1.5m ensuring the road and basic infrastructure are in place.

It is hoped that when construction of the site is completed, it will have attracted £17m of private investment to the town and will create 2,000 jobs.

John Williams, leader of the council and deputy chairman of One NorthEast, said: "The new business park will bring investment to Darlington and create job opportunities for local people.

"Both Darlington Council and One NorthEast look forward to working with the developers to produce a high-quality business park that will be a real asset to the town and to the North-East."

One of the planned office blocks will be 12,000 sq ft and on two storeys, while the other will be on three storeys and will take up 25,000 sq ft.

If planning permission is granted, the company hopes to open the offices within a year. As well as the two office blocks, Highbridge Morton Palms has been chosen to develop the rest of the business park over the coming years.

Highbridge director Simon Davies said five companies had shown an interest in the site.

He said: "There is already interest in what we are doing here, and we will be talking with various companies who have an interest in the town.

"Once these two office blocks are being used, we are sure there will be a natural demand for the rest of the business park to be developed.

"Morton Palms is the only really modern business park in the town, and we think it will attract a lot of business which, in turn, will create more jobs."