WORK has started on a £5m office development that could bring 1,000 jobs to the region.

The next phase of the Lingfield Point business park, on the outskirts of Darlington, has begun, with 100,000 sq feet of office space being created on a single floor.

Lingfield Point, the former 1940s Paton and Baldwins wool factory, is being converted into offices and warehouse space by developers Marchday.

The latest work follows lettings to Capita, NHS and Four Seasons Healthcare and the successful conversion of The Beehive, a former ballroom, into split-level studio offices.

Teesside building company Rok is demolishing the front of the building to create a glass facia and landscaping the surrounding area, before starting work on the interior.

Marchday director John Orchard said: "Memphis will be a low energy, state-of-the-art modern office building. There are not many buildings that can offer 100,000 sq ft on one level in the North-East."

Rok contracts manager Darren Hurst said it was the latest in a number of projects Rok had been involved in at Lingfield Point.

Ian Parker of joint agent GVA Grimley said: "High quality office space and a good location are clearly major factors in Lingfield Point's success, as is the availability of ample car parking.

"There is also a tremendous amount of business support available from Darlington Borough Council and local regeneration bodies.

"Memphis is a very exciting development in the sense that it is probably the biggest single-floor plate for office space available in the region.

"Most buildings are multi-floored, but many larger businesses prefer to be on a single level."

The Northern Echo revealed last month that the business park, just off McMullen Road, would, in the long-term, create another 3,500 jobs and cost about £120m.

Although no companies have signed up for the new office space yet, Marchday is confident enough to invest the £5m following successful lettings at previous phases of development on the site.