A new tenant has taken possession of its premises at Lingfield Point.

South Durham Healthcare NHS Trust has taken a 15-year lease on a 28,000sq ft building within the Darlington complex.

It will use the new premises to house a new health records centre for Bishop Auckland General and Darlington Memorial Hospitals.

The £16m first phase of the re-launch of the former industrial site is nearing completion, with the investment transforming Lingfield Point into a secure and dynamic location for manufacturing, modern warehousing and office accommodation.

The 1.6m sqft site at Lingfield point covers 125 acres and was the former centre of European wool manufacturing for Paton and Baldwins.

It was acquired by Lingfield investments in 1998 and they have already made substantial investment in upgrading the complex to meet the demands of business in then 21st Century.

Brenda Heap, patient services manager at South Durham Healthcare NHS Trust, said: "We are very pleased to be moving into our new premises.

"The high quality accommodation and facilities at Lingfield Point will enable us to continue to provide the excellent quality of service that is always our goal and also offer our staff a pleasant and modern working environment."

Eddie Humphries, estate manager at Lingfield Point said: "Our aim is to provide cost-effective and flexible premises for a wide range of users and our simplified approach to leasing means that we are completely flexible in the terms we offer tenants.

"We are pleased to welcome the Trust to Lingfield Point and look forward to a long and productive working relationship."