WORK is due to start this week in Darlington on a project to regenerate the town.

A four-storey office block is to be built in Archer Street, on the site of the former sports centre and clinic.

The £2.4m project is by North East Property Holdings for Southern Cross Healthcare.

The offices and an adjoining car park will be completed early next year and are being built by construction company MMP Group, project managers Thompkins and Thompkins, and designed by Leigh Cooper Associates.

The project is the second part of a three-phase project, which will finally house more than 750 employees.

The first phase, completed earlier this year, comprised the refurbishment of the neighbouring premises, which now features Darlington Primary Care Trust's headquarters as well as a £1m walk-in medical centre.

Owen Graham, construction director at the MMP Group, said: "This is a very important project for Darlington as it will help further growth and development of the regeneration of the town.

"It is a great project that will really make a difference to the town centre."