A PLAN is being drawn up that could create 3,500 jobs at a North-East business park and former tobacco factory.

Marchday, the company developing Lingfield Point business park, in Darlington, has appointed property consultants King Sturge to draw up a masterplan for the future of the site.

More than 1,400 people work in units at Lingfield Point, formerly the Paton and Baldwins wool factory, but much of the site is still to be developed.

Marchday has taken control of the former British American Tobacco site, which closed last year with the loss of 500 jobs.

Earlier this year, The Northern Echo revealed that as many as 5,000 people may eventually work at Lingfield Point.

Lingfield House, at the centre of the development, has been converted into modern offices, and the former Beehive Ballroom provides studio offices.

The next phase of the site, known as Memphis, is expected to create 1,000 jobs.

Marchday is developing the site slowly so as not to saturate the market.

The company has named John Foddy, of King Sturge, as the man leading the masterplanning for the 107-acre site.