THE property developer behind Darlington's Morton Palms has announced plans to build a £6m development in South Tyneside.

City and Northern is building 16 two-storey office units in Blue Sky Way, which is near the A194 in Monkton Business Park.

Robertson Construction will carry out the work on the units, which are designed to appeal to small and medium-sized businesses. They will be completed by August.

Elliott Ward, managing director of City and Northern, said: "Blue Sky Way will offer office space in a much-sought-after part of South Tyneside.

"The partnership with Robertson is advantageous in that the company has both development and construction expertise." Stuart Hopley, development manager for Robertson Property, said: "I have known Elliott for a number of years and City and Northern has a track record of sourcing suitable sites in excellent locations. Blue Sky Way has the potential to attract businesses from busy town centres and research shows that demand for high-specification office space in the region is still high."