UP TO 1,000 jobs could be created with the redevelopment of a vandal-hit North-East landmark.

Planning officials are backing moves to breathe new life into the former ICI offices known as Billingham House, at Billingham, Teesside.

A nine-storey office building, built in the 1950s, Billingham House was vacated between 1992 and 1995.

In 1998, permission was granted to use the building as a call centre, but this was never implemented.

Over the past couple of years, the building has been vandalised and has taken on a neglected appearance.

Now, it will be partially demolished and five two-storey office blocks built.

A report to Stockton Borough Council's planning committee says: "The development will bring about significant inward investment, as well as helping to alleviate current adverse problems arising from the run-down and derelict appearance of the site.

"It is estimated up to 1,000 jobs could be created by the full development."

Neil Ethrington, chief executive of Tees Valley Development Company, welcomed the news.

He said: "Until the jobs are actually secured we will not count our chickens, but it will be a welcome addition to the area and hopefully it will complement the existing redevelopments at nearby Teesdale."

At present the site was detracting from efforts to regenerate the area.

Part of these was a multi-million pound investment by neighbouring Avecia to develop a new bio-tech facility, which would create more than 300 jobs.

Harry Davies, chairman of Billingham Regeneration Partnership's town centre sub-committee, said: "We welcome this news. It is a massive victory for the town with the number of jobs that are going to be created in the area.

"It will certainly take away what is at the moment a source of great trouble with all the vandalism.

"It will certainly improve the appearance of that part of the town and will create a lot of interest, as it is such a big investment.

"It is a massive boost for the economy in the area."