WYNYARD Limited was remaining silent last night about exactly how many jobs might be created following the acquisition of Sir John Hall's Wynyard Business Park.

Managing director Chris Musgrave said too many empty promises had been made concerning the potential of the site, just off the A19, on Teesside.

"We are talking about hundreds of millions of pounds of investment and thousands and thousands of jobs," he said.

"I don't want to over-promise anything though - when we sign people up, I will make sure it is announced. Too many promises have been made regarding this site."

Sir John, the driving force behind the Gateshead MetroCentre, revealed a masterplan for the Wynyard Business Park last October, and said the 500-acre site would create 5,000 jobs in the short-term and up to 20,000 in the next 20 years.

The only developments on site to date are a small office occupied by NG Bailey and a £6m office development called Lions Court, which was completed in May and remains empty.

Wynyard Limited has spent the past year developing the 200-acre Wynyard One site, which was sold to the company after Samsung closed its microwave and computer monitor factory last year.

About £70m of investment has already been secured for the site, with Glamal Engineering converting the former microwave ovens building into a storage facility with modern offices.

Yesterday, developer HelioSlough was given the go-ahead by Stockton Borough Council's planning committee to build two distribution centres on site, expected to create 900 jobs.

The proposal had led to objections from residents living in nearby Wolviston, with concerns about a possible increase in traffic on the A19 and A689.

With large developments expected on the site in the future, Mr Musgrave, who lives in Wynyard Village, said public consultations would be held and improvements made to the access roads.

Stockton Borough Council chief executive George Garlick welcomed yesterday's announcement. He said: "This is another step forward in the continuing redevelopment of this exciting and dynamic location and we are certain any future growth will prove to be beneficial for both the local economy and workforce," he said.

Hartlepool Mayor Stuart Drummond said: "I aim to ensure that Hartlepool residents reap the fullest possible benefits from this major development, and I look forward to working with Wynyard Limited in the future."

The Wynyard One logo will be dropped in the coming months and the site will be rebranded under one name.

Sir John, who is still based at Wynyard Hall, was unavailable for comment yesterday.

Will park finally live up to its potential?

1991: Sir John Hall's company, Cameron Hall Developments, submits plans for homes, a golf course and a business park at Wynyard.

February 1994: First turf cut to create Wynyard village.

May 1994: First homes on sale, golf course seeded.

October 1994: Korean electronics group Samsung says it will build an "electronic city" at Wynyard.

1995: Samsung moves to Wynyard.

1999: Cameron Hall Developments struggles to attract investors to Wynyard.

2002: Cameron Hall sells 3,000 acres of the estate after Companies House accounts show it made an operating loss of £90m.

2004: Samsung sacks its workforce of 425, saying Western European factories were no longer cost-effective.

Sir John Hall confirms his plans for Wynyard Business Park, saying it will create 20,000 jobs.

Feb 2004: Samsung sells its factory to businessman Chris Musgrave, who later says his Wynyard One business park will create about 1,000 jobs following a £45m investment. Sir John Hall objects to the sale, saying he had wanted an opportunity to buy the land and redevelop it as part of his neighbouring Wynyard Business Park.

April 2005: Companies including Helioslough and Glamal Engineering and Semta agree leases on Wynyard One, with hundreds of jobs promised.

July 2005: Sir John Hall asks for a judicial review of Stockton Borough Council's planning decision at Wynyard One.

August 19, 2005: Sir John Hall drops his legal challenge, allowing plans for the development of Wynyard One to continue.

August 24, 2005: Wynyard Limited, the company behind the redevelopment of the former Samsung site, announces it has led a consortium to buy the neighbouring Wynyard Business Park from Cameron Hall Developments.