TWO office schemes in the region are about to create more than 1,000 jobs, The Northern Echo has learned.

Gladman Developments plans to invest £15.9m in an 88,200sq ft office complex in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, and a 56,500sq ft development in Catterick, North Yorkshire.

Both projects are being supported by regional development agencies and will go before councillors next month.

If planning permission is granted, work will start on the schemes immediately and, between them, the developments are expected to attract scores of businesses and create up to 1,100 jobs.

Kevin Waters, of Gladman, which is based in Cheshire, said he expected both developments to attract a mix of occupiers.

"With these types of schemes we are taking a risk, but we wouldn't build anywhere we did not think would attract businesses," said Mr Waters.

"It is about having the confidence and, very often, we find that other developers follow suit after seeing our success."

Gladman, which has an annual turnover £150m, plans to build a £9.7m office complex off Welbury Way, in Newton Aycliffe Industrial Park.

The company is working with regional development agency One NorthEast on the scheme, which is expected to create more than 600 jobs.

Sedgefield Borough Council will consider the plans at the end of next month. The first units could be completed by January next year.

Gladman will start construction on site as soon as it receives planning permission - without having first found tenants

"We always build speculatively, as we know that this is the best way to attract new companies to our offices and new employers to an area," said Mr Waters.

"In today's fast-moving business environment, larger companies cannot wait for buildings to be specially built for them, and smaller companies will go to where accommodation is ready for them to move into."

Gladman's proposed £6.2m development at Colburn Business Park, in Catterick, is expected to create 500 jobs and provide accommodation for up to 20 businesses.

The Bailey Court scheme is being backed by Yorkshire Forward.