AFTER almost a decade of planning wrangles, work is finally due to begin next week on a £36m leisure and retail development at one of the region's worst economic blackspots.

The long-awaited Dalton Flatts project, near the former pit village of Murton will create a complex of factory shops and new facilities and bring 1,100 jobs to the area.

Described as the biggest boost to east Durham in half a century, the venture has endured a troubled history since the site of the one time colliery waste heap was first marked for redevelopment in 1993.

It took five years for positive plans to be produced for the 87-acre site by Matthew Fox Developments.

The scale of the project, however, prompted fierce opposition from Durham County Council and the application was eventually called in by the Government.

Its fortunes seemed restored again in February of 2000, when Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott swept aside planning guidelines and sanctioned the development.

Further delays came in January of last year, when London and Amsterdam Developments took over from Matthew Fox and lodged and an amended and extended planning application.

And it was not until last November that the final go-ahead was granted by Easington District Council.

The news everyone was waiting for came yesterday, when Easington MP John Cummings announced that construction work was due to begin on Monday.

Mr Cummings said: "It has been a lengthy process, but I am delighted that the developers, London and Amsterdam, have confirmed that the principal contractor, Ballast Construction, will begin work on the site on March 11."

After the erection of a compound, cabins and a site office the first phase of work, which is expected to take 14 months, will include the building of retail outlets and car parking facilities followed by the leisure developments.

Mr Cummings said: "This is one of the most significant developments in the new millennium in the whole of east Durham.

"I would like to pay tribute to the District of Easington, Murton Parish Council, the Dalton Flatts Action Group and all of those groups and individuals who have worked so hard to deliver this project."