DEVELOPER Terrace Hill has let the top floor of the Advance Building at Teesdale Business Park to the National Care Standards Commission.

The deal for the 12,500 sq ft floor has been concluded in record time, with construction of the three-storey building in the St Marks Basin area of the business park only starting in September.

Teesdale Business Park is one of the most sought-after business locations in the region, since Terrace Hill began development work in 1996.

Advance is a top specification office building, air-conditioned with a glazed reception area and 57 parking spaces.

Philip Leech, director of Terrace Hill, is now turning his attention to finding an occupier for the remainder of the building, which can be let in suites or as a whole.

He said: "I am pleased we have achieved a letting for Advance at such an early stage in its construction.

"With the superb waterside location and communications links, the high quality of building design and environment that we are providing at Teesdale are undoubtedly factors which play a very significant role in shaping the success of our development."

Terrace Hill will fit out the top floor of the Advance building so that, when it is completed at the end of next March, it will simply be a case of switching on the power to make the office operational.

The commission is a non-departmental Government body, which has a regulatory and inspectorate role, ensuring that nursing and care homes are conforming to national minimum standards.

The organisation has set up its national headquarters in Newcastle and is in the process of establishing eight regional offices and a further 71 area offices throughout the UK - one of which is to be located at Advance.

Jim Allwood, property co-ordinator for the Department of Health, is overseeing the development programme.

He said: "With such challenging targets to meet and budgets coming under pressure, I was delighted that Terrace Hill was able to provide a quality product.

"I am sure that the staff transferring from various authorities in the Tees Valley will be delighted with their new base."

With the Advance completion, there will be only eight acres left to develop at Teesdale