A DECISION is expected today (Wednesday, October 15) on plans to extend a business hub, which could deliver hundreds of jobs.

Durham County Council’s cabinet will meet to discuss proposals on expanding North East Technology Park (NETPark), in Sedgefield, County Durham.

Councillors have been urged to approve £12.9m funding for the work.

Bosses say it could create up to 800 jobs at NETPark companies and support construction roles in the next three years.

They added the site, which houses 23 firms working across science, engineering and technology, must be increased as seven of its existing businesses are looking to expand and a waiting list of companies wanting to move to the park is growing.

Councillor Neil Foster, the council’s cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: “NETPark is a real success story, turning County Durham into a global hub for cutting edge science and technology companies.”

The hub is already home to a number of innovative firms, including AIM-listed scanner maker Kromek, broadband technology company Filtronic, and the Centre for Process Innovation.

Growing mask maker Polyphotonix is also planning to open a purpose-built base in early 2016, which it says will allow more work on its sleep masks that could transform treatment of eye disease in diabetes sufferers.